Composition comprising a biological control agent and a fungicide selected from inhibitors of amino acid or protein biosynthesis and inhibitors of cell wall synthesis

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a composition comprising at least one biological control agent selected from the group consisting  Bacillus subtilis  AQ713 (NRRL Accession No. B-21661),  Bacillus subtilis  AQ30002 (NRRL Accession No. B-50421), and  Bacillus subtilis  AQ 30004 (NRRL Accession No. B-50455), and/or a mutant of these strains having all the identifying characteristics of the respective strain, and/or a metabolite produced by the respective strain that exhibits activity against insects, mites, nematodes and/or phytopathogens and at least one fungicide (I) selected from the group consisting of inhibitors of amino acid and/or protein biosynthesis and inhibitors of cell wall synthesis in a synergistically effective amount. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of this composition as well as a method for reducing overall damage of plants and plant parts.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to and is a Continuation-In-Partof International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2013/061016, filed May 29,2013, which claims priority to European Patent Application No.12004160.3 filed on May 30, 2012, and to European Patent Application No.12197942.1, filed on Dec. 19, 2012. Each of the foregoing applicationsis hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to the technical field of biological and chemicalplant protection agents and synergistic combinations thereof.

BACKGROUND

Synthetic insecticides or fungicides often are non-specific andtherefore can act on organisms other than the target ones, includingother naturally occurring beneficial organisms. Because of theirchemical nature, they may be also toxic and non-biodegradable. Consumersworldwide are increasingly conscious of the potential environmental andhealth problems associated with the residuals of chemicals, particularlyin food products. This has resulted in growing consumer pressure toreduce the use or at least the quantity of chemical (i.e., synthetic)pesticides. Thus, there is a need to manage food chain requirementswhile still allowing effective pest control.

A further problem arising with the use of synthetic insecticides orfungicides is that the repeated and exclusive application of aninsecticide or fungicides often leads to selection of resistantmicroorganisms. Normally, such strains are also cross-resistant againstother active ingredients having the same mode of action. An effectivecontrol of the pathogens with said active compounds is then not possibleany longer. However, active ingredients having new mechanisms of actionare difficult and expensive to develop.

The risk of resistance development in pathogen populations as well asenvironmental and human health concerns have fostered interest inidentifying alternatives to synthetic insecticides and fungicides formanaging plant diseases. The use of biological control agents (BCAs) isone alternative. However, the effectiveness of most BCAs is not at thesame level as for conventional insecticides and fungicides, especiallyin case of severe infection pressure. Consequently, known biologicalcontrol agents, their mutants and metabolites produced by them are, inparticular in low application rates, not entirely satisfactory.

Thus, there is a constant need for developing new, alternative plantprotection agents which in some areas at least help to fulfill theabove-mentioned requirements.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to a composition comprising at least onebiological control agent selected from specific microorganisms and/or amutant of these strains having all the identifying characteristics ofthe respective strain, and/or a metabolite produced by the respectivestrain that exhibits activity against insects, mites, nematodes and/orphytopathogens and at least one fungicide (I) selected from the groupconsisting of inhibitors of the amino acid and/or protein biosynthesis,inhibitors of the ATP production and inhibitors of the cell wallsynthesis in a synergistically effective amount. Furthermore, thepresent invention relates to the use of this composition as well as amethod for reducing overall damage of plants and plant parts.

It was in particular an object of the present invention to providecompositions which exhibit activity against insects, mites, nematodesand/or phytopathogens. Moreover, it was a further particular object ofthe present invention, to reduce the application rates and broaden theactivity spectrum of the biological control agents and fungicides, andthereby to provide a composition which, preferably at a reduced totalamount of active compounds applied, has improved activity againstinsects, mites, nematodes and/or phytopathogens. In particular, it was afurther object of the present invention to provide a composition which,when applied to a crop, results in a decreased amount of residues in thecrop, thereby reducing the risk of resistance formation and neverthelessprovides efficient disease control.

Accordingly, it was found that these objects at least partly are solvedby the compositions according to the invention as defined in thefollowing. The composition according to the present invention preferablyfulfills the above-described needs. It has been surprisingly discoveredthat the application of the composition according to the presentinvention in a simultaneous or sequential way to plants, plant parts,harvested fruits, vegetables and/or plant's locus of growth preferablyallows better control of insects, mites, nematodes and/or phytopathogensthan it is possible with the strains, their mutants and/or theirmetabolites produced by the strains on the one hand and with theindividual fungicides on the other hand, alone (synergistic mixtures).By applying the biological control agent and the specified fungicideaccording to the invention the activity against insects, mites,nematodes and/or phytopathogens is preferably increased in asuperadditive manner. Preferably, the application of the compositionaccording to the invention induces an increase in the activity ofphytopathogens in a superadditive manner.

As a consequence, the composition according to the present inventionpreferably allows a reduced total amount of active compounds to be usedand thus the crops which have been treated by this compositionpreferably show a decreased amount of residues in the crop. Accordingly,the risk of resistance formation of harmful microorganisms is decreased.

The present invention is directed to a composition comprising at leastone biological control agent selected from the group consisting ofBacillus chitinosporus AQ746 (NRRL Accession No. B-21618), Bacillusmycoides AQ726 (NRRL Accession No. B-21664), Bacillus pumilus (NRRLAccession No. B-30087), Bacillus pumilus AQ717 (NRRL Accession No.B-21662), Bacillus sp. AQ175 (ATCC Accession No. 55608), Bacillus sp.AQ177 (ATCC Accession No. 55609), Bacillus sp. AQ178 (ATCC Accession No.53522), Bacillus subtilis AQ743 (NRRL Accession No. B-21665), Bacillussubtilis AQ713 (NRRL Accession No. B-21661), Bacillus subtilis AQ153(ATCC Accession No. 55614), Bacillus thuringiensis BD#32 (NRRL AccessionNo. B-21530), Bacillus thuringiensis AQ52 (NRRL Accession No. B-21619),Muscodor albus 620 (NRRL Accession No. 30547), Muscodor roseus A3-5(NRRL Accession No. 30548), Rhodococcus globerulus AQ719 (NRRL AccessionNo. B-21663), Streptomyces galbus (NRRL Accession No. 30232),Streptomyces sp. (NRRL Accession No. B-30145), Bacillus thuringiensissubspec. kurstaki BMP 123, Bacillus subtilis AQ30002 (NRRL Accession No.B-50421), and Bacillus subtilis AQ 30004 (NRRL Accession No. B-50455)and/or a mutant of these strains having all the identifyingcharacteristics of the respective strain, and/or a metabolite producedby the respective strain that exhibits activity against insects, mites,nematodes and/or phytopathogens and at least one fungicide (I) selectedfrom the group consisting of inhibitors of the amino acid and/or proteinbiosynthesis, inhibitors of the ATP production and inhibitors of thecell wall synthesis in a synergistically effective amount.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a kit of parts comprisingat least one of the specific biological control agents and the at leastone fungicide (I). The present invention is further directed to the useof said composition as fungicide and/or insecticide. Moreover, it isdirected to the use of said composition for reducing overall damage ofplants and plant parts as well as losses in harvested fruits orvegetables caused by insects, mites, nematodes and/or phytopathogens.

Moreover, the present invention provides a method for reducing overalldamage of plants and plant parts as well as losses in harvested fruitsor vegetables caused by insects, mites, nematodes and/or phytopathogens.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is directed to various compositions comprisingbiological control agents, chemical fungicides, and/or additives. Thecompositions described herein may be present in a combination (e.g., anin-can combination), a kit of parts, or a seed treatment. The presentinvention also provides uses of the compositions and methods of applyingthe compositions to reduce overall damage of plants and plant parts aswell as losses in harvested fruits or vegetables caused by insects,mites, nematodes and/or phytopathogens.

Biological Control Agents

In general “pesticidal” means the ability of a substance to increasemortality or inhibit the growth rate of plant pests. The term is usedherein, to describe the property of a substance to exhibit activityagainst insects, mites, nematodes and/or phytopathogens. In the sense ofthe present invention the term “pests” include insects, mites, nematodesand/or phytopathogens.

As used herein, “biological control” is defined as control of a pathogenand/or insect and/or an acarid and/or a nematode by the use of a secondorganism. Known mechanisms of biological control include entericbacteria that control root rot by out-competing fungi for space on thesurface of the root. Bacterial toxins, such as antibiotics, have beenused to control pathogens. The toxin can be isolated and applieddirectly to the plant or the bacterial species may be administered so itproduces the toxin in situ.

“Insecticides” as well as the term “insecticidal” refers to the abilityof a substance to increase mortality or inhibit growth rate of insects.As used herein, the term “insects” includes all organisms in the class“Insecta”. The term “pre-adult” insects refers to any form of anorganism prior to the adult stage, including, for example, eggs, larvae,and nymphs.

“Nematicides” and “nematicidal” refers to the ability of a substance toincrease mortality or inhibit the growth rate of nematodes. In general,the term “nematode” comprises eggs, larvae, juvenile and mature forms ofsaid organism.

“Acaricide” and “acaricidal” refers to the ability of a substance toincrease mortality or inhibit growth rate of ectoparasites belonging tothe class Arachnida, sub-class Acari.

The term “metabolite” refers to any compound, substance or byproduct ofa fermentation of a microorganism that has pesticidal activity.

The term “mutant” refers to a variant of the parental strain as well asmethods for obtaining a mutant or variant in which the pesticidalactivity is greater than that expressed by the parental strain. The“parent strain” is defined herein as the original strain beforemutagenesis. To obtain such mutants the parental strain may be treatedwith a chemical such as N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine,ethylmethanesulfone, or by irradiation using gamma, x-ray, orUV-irradiation, or by other means well known to those skilled in theart.

A “variant” is a strain having all the identifying characteristics ofthe NRRL or ATCC Accession Numbers as indicated in this text and can beidentified as having a genome that hybridizes under conditions of highstringency to the genome of the NRRL or ATCC Accession Numbers.

“Hybridization” refers to a reaction in which one or morepolynucleotides react to form a complex that is stabilized via hydrogenbonding between the bases of the nucleotide residues. The hydrogenbonding may occur by Watson-Crick base pairing, Hoogstein binding, or inany other sequence-specific manner. The complex may comprise two strandsforming a duplex structure, three or more strands forming amulti-stranded complex, a single self-hybridizing strand, or anycombination of these. Hybridization reactions can be performed underconditions of different “stringency”. In general, a low stringencyhybridization reaction is carried out at about 40° C. in 10×SSC or asolution of equivalent ionic strength/temperature. A moderate stringencyhybridization is typically performed at about 50° C. in 6×SSC, and ahigh stringency hybridization reaction is generally performed at about60° C. in 1×SSC.

A variant of the indicated NRRL or ATCC Accession Number may also bedefined as a strain having a genomic sequence that is greater than 85%,more preferably greater than 90% or more preferably greater than 95%sequence identity to the genome of the indicated NRRL or ATCC AccessionNumber. A polynucleotide or polynucleotide region (or a polypeptide orpolypeptide region) has a certain percentage (for example, 80%, 85%,90%, or 95%) of “sequence identity” to another sequence means that, whenaligned, that percentage of bases (or amino acids) are the same incomparing the two sequences. This alignment and the percent homology orsequence identity can be determined using software programs known in theart, for example, those described in Current Protocols in MolecularBiology (F. M. Ausubel et al., eds., 1987) Supplement 30, section7.7.18, Table 7.7.1.

NRRL is the abbreviation for the Agricultural Research Service CultureCollection, an international depositary authority for the purposes ofdeposing microorganism strains under the Budapest Treaty on theinternational recognition of the deposit of microorganisms for thepurposes of patent procedure, having the address National Center forAgricultural Utilization Research, Agricultural Research Service, U.S.Department of Agriculture, 1815 North University Street, Peoria, Ill.61604, U.S.A.

ATCC is the abbreviation for the American Type Culture Collection, aninternational depositary authority for the purposes of deposingmicroorganism strains under the Budapest treaty on the internationalrecognition of the deposit of microorganisms for the purposes of patentprocedure, having the address ATCC Patent Depository, 10801 UniversityBlvd., Manassas, Va. 10110, U.S.A.

The biological control agents used in the present invention are known inthe art as follows:

Bacillus chitinosporus AQ746 (NRRL Accession No. B-21618) (in thefollowing sometimes referred to as B1) is known from WO 98/21966 A2. Itis specifically active against nematodes and insects and producesnon-exotoxin, non-proteinaceous, active metabolites in its supernatant.Those metabolites are active against nematodes and cockroaches, butinactive against flies, corn rootworm or beet armyworm.

Bacillus mycoides AQ726 (NRRL Accession No. B-21664) (in the followingsometimes referred to as B2) and its water-soluble metabolites kill orstunt insects such as corn rootworm larvae and aphids (WO 99/09820 A1).

As described in WO 00/58442 A1 Bacillus pumilus QST2808 (NRRL AccessionNo. B-30087) (in the following sometimes referred to as B3) is able toinhibit a broad range of fungal plant diseases in vivo. Moreover, thecombination of this strain with Bacillus thuringiensis enhances theinsecticidal activity of the latter. Commercially available formulationsof this strain are sold under the trade names SONATA® and BALLAD® PLUSfrom Bayer CropScience LP, U.S.A.

Bacillus pumilus AQ717 (NRRL Accession B-21662) (in the followingsometimes referred to as B4) is known from WO 99/10477 A1. It produces ametabolite that exhibits pesticidal activity against corn rootworms,nematodes and beet armyworms.

The bacterial strains Bacillus sp. AQ175 (ATCC Accession No. 55608) (inthe following sometimes referred to as B5), Bacillus sp. AQ 177 (ATCCAccession No. 55609) (in the following sometimes referred to as B6) andBacillus sp. AQ178 (ATCC Accession No. 53522) (in the followingsometimes referred to as B7) described in WO 98/21967 A1 are effectivein treating and protecting plants from aboveground fungal and bacterialinfections.

The metabolite-producing strain Bacillus subtilis AQ743 (NRRL AccessionNo. B-21665) (in the following sometimes referred to as B8) kills orstunts corn rootworm larvae, beet armyworm larvae, fly adults andnematodes (cf. WO 99/09819).

Bacillus subtilis AQ713 (Accession No. B-21661), also named Bacillussubtilis QST713, (in the following sometimes referred to as B9) exhibitsbroad fungicidal and bactericidal activity and also exhibits cornrootworm activity (WO 98/50422 A1). Commercially available formulationof this strain are available under the trade names SERENADE® MAX,SERENADE SOIL®, SERENADE® ASO, SERENADE® CPB and RHAPSODY® from BayerCropScience LP, USA.

Bacillus subtilis AQ153 (ATCC Accession No. 55614) (in the followingsometimes referred to as B10) as described in WO 98/21964 A1 iseffective in inhibiting growth of plant pathogenic bacteria and fungi.

Bacillus thuringiensis BD#32 (NRRL Accession No. B-21530) (in thefollowing sometimes referred to as B11) exhibits insecticidal activity(U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,831). It produces a non-exotoxin,solvent-extractable, non-proteinaceous metabolite that is 100% effectivein killing corn rootworm. The biopesticide produced by this bacterialstrain is active against corn rootworm but inactive against flies.

According to WO 98/21965 A1 the antibiotic producing strain Bacillusthuringiensis AQ52 (NRRL Accession No. B-21619) (in the followingsometimes referred to as B12) exhibits broad fungicidal and bactericidalactivity.

WO 02/02082898 A1 describes endophytic fungi including Muscodor albus620, also known as Muscodor albus QST 20799 (NRRL Accession No. 30547)(in the following sometimes referred to as B13) and Muscodor roseus A3-5(NRRL Accession No. 30548) (in the following sometimes referred to asB14) that produce a mixture of volatile antibiotics with activityagainst fungi, bacteria, insects and nematodes.

Rhodococcus globerulus AQ719 (NRRL Accession No. B-21663) (in thefollowing sometimes referred to as B15) produces metabolites thatexhibits pesticidal activity against corn rootworms (U.S. Pat. No.6,027,723).

WO 01/79480 A2 describes a strain of Streptomyces galbus (NRRL AccessionNo. 30232) (in the following sometimes referred to as B16) which showsinsecticidal activity against Lepidoptera.

The Streptomyces sp. strain described in WO 02/26041 A2 (NRRL AccessionNo. B-30145) (in the following sometimes referred to as B17) exhibitsantifungal activity on specific plant pathogens such as Alternaria,Phytophthora, Botrytis, Rhizoctonia and Sclerotinia.

Commercially available formulation of Bacillus thuringiensis subspec.kurstaki BMP 123 (in the following sometimes referred to as B18) areavailable under the trade name BARITONE®. It exhibits insecticidalactivity and is effective on lepidopterous insects, including loopers,armyworms and moths. BARITONE® is distributed subject to EPA Reg. No.62637-5-69592.

The strains Bacillus subtilis AQ30002 (also known as QST30002) (NRRLAccession No. B-50421, deposited on Oct. 5, 2010) (in the followingsometimes referred to as B19) and Bacillus subtilis AQ30004 (also knownas QST30004) (NRRL Accession No. B-50455, deposited on Oct. 5, 2010) (inthe following sometimes referred to as B20) are known from WO2012/087980 A1, which is incorporated herein by reference. As describedtherein, these BCAs exhibit a broad fungicidal and bactericidalactivity. B19 and B20 have a mutation in the swrA gene that results inimpaired swarming ability and enhanced plant health promotion comparedto a strain containing a wild type swrA gene. The mutation causes theseBCAs to form a more robust biofilm than the wild type strain, therebyenhancing its fungicidal and bactericidal activity.

In a preferred embodiment the composition of the present invention ischaracterized in that the biological control agent is selected from thegroup consisting of Bacillus pumilus (NRRL Accession No. B-30087) andBacillus subtilis AQ713 (NRRL Accession No. B-21661) and/or a mutant ofthese stains having all the identifying characteristics of therespective strain, and/or a metabolite produced by the respective strainthat exhibits activity against insects, mites, nematodes and/orphytopathogens.

In another preferred embodiment the composition of the present inventionis characterized in that the biological control agent is selected fromthe group consisting of Bacillus subtilis AQ30002 (also known asQST30002) (NRRL Accession No. B-50421), Bacillus subtilis AQ30004 (alsoknown as QST30004) (NRRL Accession No. B-50455, or a Bacillus subtilisstrain having a mutation in the swrA gene that results in impairedswarming ability and enhanced plant health promotion compared to astrain containing a wild type swrA gene, and/or a mutant of these stainshaving all the identifying characteristics of the respective strain,and/or a metabolite produced by the respective strain that exhibitsactivity against insects, mites, nematodes and/or phytopathogens.

In another preferred embodiment the composition of the present inventioncomprises a combination of at least two biological control agentsselected from the group consisting of Bacillus chitinosporus AQ746 (NRRLAccession No. B-21618), Bacillus mycoides AQ726 (NRRL Accession No.B-21664), Bacillus pumilus (NRRL Accession No. B-30087), Bacilluspumilus AQ717 (NRRL Accession No. B-21662), Bacillus sp. AQ175 (ATCCAccession No. 55608), Bacillus sp. AQ177 (ATCC Accession No. 55609),Bacillus sp. AQ178 (ATCC Accession No. 53522), Bacillus subtilis AQ743(NRRL Accession No. B-21665), Bacillus subtilis AQ713 (NRRL AccessionNo. B-21661), Bacillus subtilis AQ153 (ATCC Accession No. 55614),Bacillus thuringiensis BD#32 (NRRL Accession No. B-21530), Bacillusthuringiensis AQ52 (NRRL Accession No. B-21619), Muscodor albus 620(NRRL Accession No. 30547), Muscodor roseus A3-5 (NRRL Accession No.30548), Rhodococcus globerulus AQ719 (NRRL Accession No. B-21663),Streptomyces galbus (NRRL Accession No. 30232), Streptomyces sp. (NRRLAccession No. B-30145), Bacillus thuringiensis subspec. kurstaki BMP123, Bacillus subtilis AQ30002 (NRRL Accession No. B-50421), andBacillus subtilis AQ 30004 (NRRL Accession No. B-50455) and/or a mutantof these strains having all the identifying characteristics of therespective strain, and/or a metabolite produced by the respective strainthat exhibits activity against insects, mites, nematodes and/orphytopathogens.

According to one embodiment of the present invention the biologicalcontrol agent comprises not only the isolated, pure cultures of therespective microorganisms, but also their suspensions in a whole brothculture or a metabolite-containing supernatant or a purified metaboliteobtained from whole broth culture of the strain. “Whole broth culture”refers to a liquid culture containing both cells and media.“Supernatant” refers to the liquid broth remaining when cells grown inbroth are removed by centrifugation, filtration, sedimentation, or othermeans well known in the art.

The above-mentioned metabolites produced by the nonpathogenicmicroorganisms include antibiotics, enzymes, siderophores and growthpromoting agents, for example zwittermicin-A, kanosamine, polyoxine,enzymes such as a-amylase, chitinases, and pektinases, phytohormones andprecursors thereof, such as auxines, gibberlin-like substances,cytokinin-like compounds, lipopeptides such as iturins, plipastatins orsurfactins, e.g., agrastatin A, bacillomycin D, bacilysin, difficidin,macrolactin, fengycin, bacilysin and bacilaene. Preferred metabolites ofthe above listed are lipopeptides, in particular those produced byBacillus pumilus (NRRL Accession No. B-30087) or Bacillus subtilis AQ713(NRRL Accession No. B-21661). Especially preferred metabolites areIturin A, Surfactin, Plipastatin and Agrastatin A. An even morepreferred metabolite is agrastatin A.

According to the invention, the biological control agent may be employedor used in any physiologic state such as active or dormant.

Fungicide (I)

In general, “fungicidal” means the ability of a substance to increasemortality or inhibit the growth rate of fungi.

The term “fungus” or “fungi” includes a wide variety of nucleated sporebearing organisms that are devoid of chlorophyll. Examples of fungiinclude yeasts, molds, mildews, rusts, and mushrooms.

The composition according to the present invention comprises at leastone fungicide (I) which is selected from the group consisting ofinhibitors of the amino acid and/or protein biosynthesis, inhibitors ofthe ATP production and inhibitors of the cell wall synthesis.

Preferably the fungicide (I) does not have any fungicidal activityagainst the biological control agent of the invention.

Preferably, the fungicide (I) is selected from the group consisting of:

(7) (F190) andoprim (23951-85-1), (F191) blasticidin-S (2079-00-7),(F192) cyprodinil (121552-61-2), (F193) kasugamycin (6980-18-3), (F194)kasugamycin hydrochloride hydrate (19408-46-9), (F195) mepanipyrim(110235-47-7), (F196) pyrimethanil (53112-28-0), (F197)3-(5-fluoro-3,3,4,4-tetramethyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-1-yl)quinoline(861647-32-7);

(8) (F198) fentin acetate (900-95-8), (F199) fentin chloride (639-58-7),(F200) fentin hydroxide (76-87-9), (F201) silthiofam (175217-20-6);

(9) (F202) benthiavalicarb (177406-68-7), (F203) dimethomorph(110488-70-5), (F204) flumorph (211867-47-9), (F205) iprovalicarb(140923-17-7), (F206) mandipropamid (374726-62-2), (F207) polyoxins(11113-80-7), (F208) polyoxorim (22976-86-9), (F209) validamycin A(37248-47-8), (F210) valifenalate (283159-94-4; 283159-90-0).

All named fungicides mentioned in the present application (i.e., F1 toF380) can, if their functional groups enable this, optionally form saltswith suitable bases or acids.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the fungicide (I) isa synthetic fungicide. As used herein, the term “synthetic” defines acompound that has not been obtained from a biological control agent.Especially a synthetic fungicide is no metabolite of the biologicalcontrol agents according to the present invention.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention fungicide(I) is selected from the group consisting of:

(7) Inhibitors of the amino acid and/or protein biosynthesis, forexample (F192) cyprodinil (121552-61-2), (F196) pyrimethanil(53112-28-0); and

(9) Inhibitors of the cell wall synthesis, for example (F202)benthiavalicarb (177406-68-7), (F203) dimethomorph (110488-70-5), (F205)iprovalicarb (140923-17-7), (F206) mandipropamid (374726-62-2), (F210)valifenalate (283159-94-4; 283159-90-0).

According to another preferred embodiment of the present inventionfungicide (I) is (F206) mandipropamid (374726-62-2).

In one embodiment of the present invention, fungicide (I), e.g., thefungicide for use in seed treatment is Silthiofam (F201).

Compositions According to the Present Invention

According to the present invention the composition comprises at leastone biological control agent selected from the group consisting ofBacillus chitinosporus AQ746 (NRRL Accession No. B-21618), Bacillusmycoides AQ726 (NRRL Accession No. B-21664), Bacillus pumilus (NRRLAccession No. B-30087), Bacillus pumilus AQ717 (NRRL Accession No.B-21662), Bacillus sp. AQ175 (ATCC Accession No. 55608), Bacillus sp.AQ177 (ATCC Accession No. 55609), Bacillus sp. AQ178 (ATCC Accession No.53522), Bacillus subtilis AQ743 (NRRL Accession No. B-21665), Bacillussubtilis AQ713 (NRRL Accession No. B-21661), Bacillus subtilis AQ153(ATCC Accession No. 55614), Bacillus thuringiensis BD#32 (NRRL AccessionNo. B-21530), Bacillus thuringiensis AQ52 (NRRL Accession No. B-21619),Muscodor albus 620 (NRRL Accession No. 30547), Muscodor roseus A3-5(NRRL Accession No. 30548), Rhodococcus globerulus AQ719 (NRRL AccessionNo. B-21663), Streptomyces galbus (NRRL Accession No. 30232),Streptomyces sp. (NRRL Accession No. B-30145), Bacillus thuringiensissubspec. kurstaki BMP 123, Bacillus subtilis AQ30002 (NRRL Accession No.B-50421), and Bacillus subtilis AQ 30004 (NRRL Accession No. B-50455)and/or a mutant of these stains having all the identifyingcharacteristics of the respective strain, and/or a metabolite producedby the respective strain that exhibits activity against insects, mites,nematodes and/or phytopathogens and the at least one fungicide (I) asspecified in claim 1 in a synergistically effective amount.

A “synergistically effective amount” according to the present inventionrepresents a quantity of a combination of a biological control agent anda fungicide that is statistically significantly more effective againstinsects, mites, nematodes and/or phytopathogens than the biologicalcontrol agent or the fungicide only.

In a preferred embodiment the composition according to the presentinvention comprises the following combinations:

B1+F190, B1+F191, B1+F192, B1+F193, B1+F194, B1+F195, B1+F196, B1+F197,B1+F198, B1+F199, B1+F200, B1+F201, B1+F202, B1+F203, B1+F204, B1+F205,B1+F206, B1+F207, B1+F208, B1+F209, B1+F210;

B2+F190, B2+F191, B2+F192, B2+F193, B2+F194, B2+F195, B2+F196, B2+F197,B2+F198, B2+F199, B2+F200, B2+F201, B2+F202, B2+F203, B2+F204, B2+F205,B2+F206, B2+F207, B2+F208, B2+F209, B2+F210;

B3+F190, B3+F191, B3+F192, B3+F193, B3+F194, B3+F195, B3+F196, B3+F197,B3+F198, B3+F199, B3+F200, B3+F201, B3+F202, B3+F203, B3+F204, B3+F205,B3+F206, B3+F207, B3+F208, B3+F209, B3+F210;

B4+F190, B4+F191, B4+F192, B4+F193, B4+F194, B4+F195, B4+F196, B4+F197,B4+F198, B4+F199, B4+F200, B4+F201, B4+F202, B4+F203, B4+F204, B4+F205,B4+F206, B4+F207, B4+F208, B4+F209, B4+F210;

B5+F190, B5+F191, B5+F192, B5+F193, B5+F194, B5+F195, B5+F196, B5+F197,B5+F198, B5+F199, B5+F200, B5+F201, B5+F202, B5+F203, B5+F204, B5+F205,B5+F206, B5+F207, B5+F208, B5+F209, B5+F210;

B6+F190, B6+F191, B6+F192, B6+F193, B6+F194, B6+F195, B6+F196, B6+F197,B6+F198, B6+F199, B6+F200, B6+F201, B6+F202, B6+F203, B6+F204, B6+F205,B6+F206, B6+F207, B6+F208, B6+F209, B6+F210;

B7+F190, B7+F191, B7+F192, B7+F193, B7+F194, B7+F195, B7+F196, B7+F197,B7+F198, B7+F199, B7+F200, B7+F201, B7+F202, B7+F203, B7+F204, B7+F205,B7+F206, B7+F207, B7+F208, B7+F209, B7+F210;

B8+F190, B8+F191, B8+F192, B8+F193, B8+F194, B8+F195, B8+F196, B8+F197,B8+F198, B8+F199, B8+F200, B8+F201, B8+F202, B8+F203, B8+F204, B8+F205,B8+F206, B8+F207, B8+F208, B8+F209, B8+F210B9+F190, B9+F191, B9+F192,

B9+F193, B9+F194, B9+F195, B9+F196, B9+F197, B9+F198, B9+F199, B9+F200,B9+F201, B9+F202, B9+F203, B9+F204, B9+F205, B9+F206, B9+F207, B9+F208,B9+F209, B9+F210;

B10+F190, B10+F191, B10+F192, B10+F193, B10+F194, B10+F195, B10+F196,B10+F197, B10+F198, B10+F199, B10+F200, B10+F201, B10+F202, B10+F203,B10+F204, B10+F205, B10+F206, B10+F207, B10+F208, B10+F209, B10+F210;

B11+F190, B11+F191, B11+F192, B11+F193, B11+F194, B11+F195, B11+F196,B11+F197, B11+F198, B11+F199, B11+F200, B11+F201, B11+F202, B11+F203,B11+F204, B11+F205, B11+F206, B11+F207, B11+F208, B11+F209, B11+F210;

B12+F190, B12+F191, B12+F192, B12+F193, B12+F194, B12+F195, B12+F196,B12+F197, B12+F198, B12+F199, B12+F200, B12+F201, B12+F202, B12+F203,B12+F204, B12+F205, B12+F206, B12+F207, B12+F208, B12+F209, B12+F210;

B13+F190, B13+F191, B13+F192, B13+F193, B13+F194, B13+F195, B13+F196,B13+F197, B13+F198, B13+F199, B13+F200, B13+F201, B13+F202, B13+F203,B13+F204, B13+F205, B13+F206, B13+F207, B13+F208, B13+F209, B13+F210

B14+F190, B14+F191, B14+F192, B14+F193, B14+F194, B14+F195, B14+F196,B14+F197, B14+F198, B14+F199, B14+F200, B14+F201, B14+F202, B14+F203,B14+F204, B14+F205, B14+F206, B14+F207, B14+F208, B14+F209, B14+F210

B15+F190, B15+F191, B15+F192, B15+F193, B15+F194, B15+F195, B15+F196,B15+F197, B15+F198, B15+F199, B15+F200, B15+F201, B15+F202, B15+F203,B15+F204, B15+F205, B15+F206, B15+F207, B15+F208, B15+F209, B15+F210;

B16+F190, B16+F191, B16+F192, B16+F193, B16+F194, B16+F195, B16+F196,B16+F197, B16+F198, B16+F199, B16+F200, B16+F201, B16+F202, B16+F203,B16+F204, B16+F205, B16+F206, B16+F207, B16+F208, B16+F209, B16+F210;

B17+F190, B17+F191, B17+F192, B17+F193, B17+F194, B17+F195, B17+F196,B17+F197, B17+F198, B17+F199, B17+F200, B17+F201, B17+F202, B17+F203,B17+F204, B17+F205, B17+F206, B17+F207, B17+F208, B17+F209, B17+F210;

B18+F190, B18+F191, B18+F192, B18+F193, B18+F194, B18+F195, B18+F196,B18+F197, B18+F198, B18+F199, B18+F200, B18+F201, B18+F202, B18+F203,B18+F204, B18+F205, B18+F206, B18+F207, B18+F208, B18+F209, B18+F210.

B19+F190, B19+F191, B19+F192, B19+F193, B19+F194, B19+F195, B19+F196,B19+F197, B19+F198, B19+F199, B19+F200, B19+F201, B19+F202, B19+F203,B19+F204, B19+F205, B19+F206, B19+F207, B19+F208, B19+F209, B19+F210

B20+F190, B20+F191, B20+F192, B20+F193, B20+F194, B20+F195, B20+F196,B20+F197, B20+F198, B20+F199, B20+F200, B20+F201, B20+F202, B20+F203,B20+F204, B20+F205, B20+F206, B20+F207, B20+F208, B20+F209, B20+F210.

In a more preferred embodiment the composition according to the presentinvention comprises the following combinations:

B1+F192, B1+F196, B1+F201, B1+F202, B1+F203, B1+F205, B1+F206, B1+F210;

B2+F192, B2+F196, B2+F201, B2+F202, B2+F203, B2+F205, B2+F206, B2+F210;

B3+F192, B3+F196, B3+F201, B3+F202, B3+F203, B3+F205, B3+F206, B3+F210;

B4+F192, B4+F196, B4+F201, B4+F202, B4+F203, B4+F205, B4+F206, B4+F210;

B5+F192, B5+F196, B5+F201, B5+F202, B5+F203, B5+F205, B5+F206, B5+F210;

B6+F192, B6+F196, B6+F201, B6+F202, B6+F203, B6+F205, B6+F206, B6+F210;

B7+F192, B7+F196, B7+F201, B7+F202, B7+F203, B7+F205, B7+F206, B7+F210;

B8+F192, B8+F196, B8+F201, B8+F202, B8+F203, B8+F205, B8+F206, B8+F210;

B9+F192, B9+F196, B9+F201, B9+F202, B9+F203, B9+F205, B9+F206, B9+F210;

B10+F192, B10+F196, B10+F201, B10+F202, B10+F203, B10+F205, B10+F206,B10+F210;

B11+F192, B11+F196, B11+F201, B11+F202, B11+F203, B11+F205, B11+F206,B11+F210;

B12+F192, B12+F196, B12+F201, B12+F202, B12+F203, B12+F205, B12+F206,B12+F210;

B13+F192, B13+F196, B13+F201, B13+F202, B13+F203, B13+F205, B13+F206,B13+F210;

B14+F192, B14+F196, B14+F201, B14+F202, B14+F203, B14+F205, B14+F206,B14+F210;

B15+F192, B15+F196, B15+F201, B15+F202, B15+F203, B15+F205, B15+F206,B15+F210;

B16+F192, B16+F196, B16+F201, B16+F202, B16+F203, B16+F205, B16+F206,B16+F210;

B17+F192, B17+F196, B17+F201, B17+F202, B17+F203, B17+F205, B17+F206,B17+F210

B18+F192, B18+F196, B18+F201, B18+F202, B18+F203, B18+F205, B18+F206,B18+F210;

B19+F192, B19+F196, B19+F201, B19+F202, B19+F203, B19+F205, B19+F206,B19+F210;

B20+F192, B20+F196, B20+F201, B20+F202, B20+F203, B20+F205, B20+F206,B20+F210.

Still preferably, the composition according to the present invention isselected from the group consisting of:

B1+F206, B2+F206, B3+F206, B4+F206, B5+F206, B6+F206, B7+F206, B8+F206,B9+F206, B10+F206, B11+F206, B12+F206, B13+F206B14+F206, B15+F206,B16+F206, B17+F206, B18+F206, B19+F206, B20+F206.

Still preferably, the composition according to the present invention isB19+F206.

In a preferred embodiment the composition according to the presentinvention comprises at least one additional fungicide (II), with theproviso that the biological control agent, fungicide (I) and fungicide(II) are not identical.

Fungicide (II)

Preferably, fungicide (II) is selected so as not to have any fungicidalactivity against the biological control agent of the present invention.

In a preferred embodiment fungicide (II) is a synthetic fungicide.

Fungicides which may be used as fungicide (II) explained below are asfollows:

(1) Inhibitors of the ergosterol biosynthesis, for example (F1)aldimorph (1704-28-5), (F2) azaconazole (60207-31-0), (F3) bitertanol(55179-31-2), (F4) bromuconazole (116255-48-2), (F5) cyproconazole(113096-99-4), (F6) diclobutrazole (75736-33-3), (F7) difenoconazole(119446-68-3), (F8) diniconazole (83657-24-3), (F9) diniconazole-M(83657-18-5), (F10) dodemorph (1593-77-7), (F11) dodemorph acetate(31717-87-0), (F12) epoxiconazole (106325-08-0), (F13) etaconazole(60207-93-4), (F14) fenarimol (60168-88-9), (F15) fenbuconazole(114369-43-6), (F16) fenhexamid (126833-17-8), (F17) fenpropidin(67306-00-7), (F18) fenpropimorph (67306-03-0), (F19) fluquinconazole(136426-54-5), (F20) flurprimidol (56425-91-3), (F21) flusilazole(85509-19-9), (F22) flutriafol (76674-21-0), (F23) furconazole(112839-33-5), (F24) furconazole-cis (112839-32-4), (F25) hexaconazole(79983-71-4), (F26) imazalil (60534-80-7), (F27) imazalil sulfate(58594-72-2), (F28) imibenconazole (86598-92-7), (F29) ipconazole(125225-28-7), (F30) metconazole (125116-23-6), (F31) myclobutanil(88671-89-0), (F32) naftifine (65472-88-0), (F33) nuarimol (63284-71-9),(F34) oxpoconazole (174212-12-5), (F35) paclobutrazol (76738-62-0),(F36) pefurazoate (101903-30-4), (F37) penconazole (66246-88-6), (F38)piperalin (3478-94-2), (F39) prochloraz (67747-09-5), (F40)propiconazole (60207-90-1), (F41) prothioconazole (178928-70-6), (F42)pyributicarb (88678-67-5), (F43) pyrifenox (88283-41-4), (F44)quinconazole (103970-75-8), (F45) simeconazole (149508-90-7), (F46)spiroxamine (118134-30-8), (F47) tebuconazole (107534-96-3), (F48)terbinafine (91161-71-6), (F49) tetraconazole (112281-77-3), (F50)triadimefon (43121-43-3), (F51) triadimenol (89482-17-7), (F52)tridemorph (81412-43-3), (F53) triflumizole (68694-11-1), (F54)triforine (26644-46-2), (F55) triticonazole (131983-72-7), (F56)uniconazole (83657-22-1), (F57) uniconazole-p (83657-17-4), (F58)viniconazole (77174-66-4), (F59) voriconazole (137234-62-9), (F60)1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)cycloheptanol (129586-32-9),(F61) methyl1-(2,2-dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-yl)-1H-imidazole-5-carboxylate(110323-95-0), (F62)N′-{5-(difluoromethyl)-2-methyl-4-[3-(trimethylsilyl)propoxy]phenyl}-N-ethyl-N-methylimidoformamide,(F63)N-ethyl-N-methyl-N′-{2-methyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)-4-[3-(trimethylsilyl)propoxy]phenyl}imidoformamide,(F64)O-[1-(4-methoxyphenoxy)-3,3-dimethylbutan-2-yl]1H-imidazole-1-carbothioate(111226-71-2);

(2) inhibitors of the respiratory chain at complex I or II, for example(F65) bixafen (581809-46-3), (F66) boscalid (188425-85-6), (F67)carboxin (5234-68-4), (F68) diflumetorim (130339-07-0), (F69) fenfuram(24691-80-3), (F70) fluopyram (658066-35-4), (F71) flutolanil(66332-96-5), (F72) fluxapyroxad (907204-31-3), (F73) furametpyr(123572-88-3), (F74) furmecyclox (60568-05-0), (F75) isopyrazam (mixtureof syn-epimeric racemate 1RS,4SR,9RS and anti-epimeric racemate1RS,4SR,9SR) (881685-58-1), (F76) isopyrazam (anti-epimeric racemate1RS,4SR,9SR), (F77) isopyrazam (anti-epimeric enantiomer 1R,4S,9S),(F78) isopyrazam (anti-epimeric enantiomer 1S,4R,9R), (F79) isopyrazam(syn epimeric racemate 1RS,4SR,9RS), (F80) isopyrazam (syn-epimericenantiomer 1R,4S,9R), (F81) isopyrazam (syn-epimeric enantiomer1S,4R,9S), (F82) mepronil (55814-41-0), (F83) oxycarboxin (5259-88-1),(F84) penflufen (494793-67-8), (F85) penthiopyrad (183675-82-3), (F86)sedaxane (874967-67-6), (F87) thifluzamide (130000-40-7), (F88)1-methyl-N-[2-(1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethoxy)phenyl]-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide,(F89)3-(difluoromethyl)-1-methyl-N-[2-(1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethoxy)phenyl]-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide,(F90)3-(difluoromethyl)-N-[4-fluoro-2-(1,1,2,3,3,3-hexafluoropropoxy)phenyl]-1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide,(F91)N-[1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-methoxypropan-2-yl]-3-(difluoromethyl)-1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide(1092400-95-7), (F92)5,8-difluoro-N-[2-(2-fluoro-4-{[4-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-2-yl]oxy}phenyl)ethyl]quinazolin-4-amine(1210070-84-0), (F93) benzovindiflupyr, (F94)N-[(1S,4R)-9-(dichloromethylene)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1,4-methanonaphthalen-5-yl]-3-(difluoromethyl)-1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide,(F95)N-[(1R,4S)-9-(dichloromethylene)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1,4-methanonaphthalen-5-yl]-3-(difluoromethyl)-1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide,(F96)3-(Difluormethyl)-1-methyl-N-(1,1,3-trimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-4-yl)-1H-pyrazol-4-carboxamid,(F97)1,3,5-Trimethyl-N-(1,1,3-trimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-4-yl)-1H-pyrazol-4-carboxamid,(F98)1-Methyl-3-(trifluormethyl)-N-(1,3,3-trimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-4-yl)-1H-pyrazol-4-carboxamid,(F99)1-Methyl-3-(trifluormethyl)-N-[(1S)-1,3,3-trimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-4-yl]-1H-pyrazol-4-carboxamid,(F100)1-Methyl-3-(trifluormethyl)-N-[(1R)-1,3,3-trimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-4-yl]-1H-pyrazol-4-carboxamid,(F101)3-(Difluormethyl)-1-methyl-N-[(3S)-1,1,3-trimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-4-yl]-1H-pyrazol-4-carboxamid,(F102)3-(Difluormethyl)-1-methyl-N-[(3R)-1,1,3-trimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-4-yl]-1H-pyrazol-4-carboxamid,(F103)1,3,5-Trimethyl-N-[(3R)-1,1,3-trimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-4-yl]-1H-pyrazol-4-carboxamid,(F104)1,3,5-Trimethyl-N-[(3S)-1,1,3-trimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-4-yl]-1H-pyrazol-4-carboxamid;

(3) inhibitors of the respiratory chain at complex III, for example(F105) ametoctradin (865318-97-4), (F106) amisulbrom (348635-87-0),(F107) azoxystrobin (131860-33-8), (F108) cyazofamid (120116-88-3),(F109) coumethoxystrobin (850881-30-0), (F110) coumoxystrobin(850881-70-8), (F111) dimoxystrobin (141600-52-4), (F112) enestroburin(238410-11-2), (F113) famoxadone (131807-57-3), (F114) fenamidone(161326-34-7), (F115) fenoxystrobin (918162-02-4), (F116) fluoxastrobin(361377-29-9), (F117) kresoxim-methyl (143390-89-0), (F118)metominostrobin (133408-50-1), (F119) orysastrobin (189892-69-1), (F120)picoxystrobin (117428-22-5), (F121) pyraclostrobin (175013-18-0), (F122)pyrametostrobin (915410-70-7), (F123) pyraoxystrobin (862588-11-2),(F124) pyribencarb (799247-52-2), (F125) triclopyricarb (902760-40-1),(F126) trifloxystrobin (141517-21-7), (F127)(2E)-2-(2-{[6-(3-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)-5-fluoropyrimidin-4-yl]oxy}phenyl)-2-(methoxyimino)-N-methylethanamide,(F128)(2E)-2-(methoxyimino)-N-methyl-2-(2-{[({(1E)-1-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]ethylidene}amino)oxy]methyl}phenyl)-ethanamide,(F129)(2E)-2-(methoxyimino)-N-methyl-2-{2-[(E)-({1-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]ethoxy}imino)methyl]phenyl}ethanamide(158169-73-4), (F130)(2E)-2-{2-[({[(1E)-1-(3-{[(E)-1-fluoro-2-phenylethenyl]oxy}phenyl)ethylidene]amino}-oxy)methyl]phenyl}-2-(methoxyimino)-N-methylethanamide(326896-28-0), (F131)(2E)-2-{2-[({[(2E,3E)-4-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)but-3-en-2-ylidene]amino}oxy)methyl]phenyl}-2-(methoxyimino)-N-methylethanamide,(F132)2-chloro-N-(1,1,3-trimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-4-yl)pyridine-3-carboxamide(119899-14-8), (F133)5-methoxy-2-methyl-4-(2-{[({(1E)-1-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]ethylidene}amino)oxy]methyl}phenyl)-2,4-dihydro-3H-1,2,4-triazol-3-one,(F134) methyl(2E)-2-{2[({cyclopropyl[(4-methoxyphenyl)imino]-methyl}sulfanyl)methyl]phenyl}-3-methoxyprop-2-enoate(149601-03-6), (F135)N-(3-ethyl-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexyl)-3-(formylamino)-2-hydroxybenzamide(226551-21-9), (F136)2-{2-[(2,5-dimethylphenoxy)methyl]phenyl}-2-methoxy-N-methylacetamide(173662-97-0), (F137)(2R)-2-{2-[(2,5-dimethylphenoxy)methyl]phenyl}-2-methoxy-N-methylacetamide(394657-24-0);

(4) Inhibitors of the mitosis and cell division, for example (F138)benomyl (17804-35-2), (F139) carbendazim (10605-21-7), (F140)chlorfenazole (3574-96-7), (F141) diethofencarb (87130-20-9), (F142)ethaboxam (162650-77-3), (F143) fluopicolide (239110-15-7), (F144)fuberidazole (3878-19-1), (F145) pencycuron (66063-05-6), (F146)thiabendazole (148-79-8), (F147) thiophanate-methyl (23564-05-8), (F148)thiophanate (23564-06-9), (F149) zoxamide (156052-68-5), (F150)5-chloro-7-(4-methylpiperidin-1-yl)-6-(2,4,6-trifluorophenyl)[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine(214706-53-3), (F151)3-chloro-5-(6-chloropyridin-3-yl)-6-methyl-4-(2,4,6-trifluorophenyl)pyridazine(1002756-87-7);

(5) Compounds capable to have a multisite action, like for example(F152) bordeaux mixture (8011-63-0), (F153) captafol (2425-06-1), (F154)captan (133-06-2), (F155) chlorothalonil (1897-45-6), (F156) copperhydroxide (20427-59-2), (F157) copper naphthenate (1338-02-9), (F158)copper oxide (1317-39-1), (F159) copper oxychloride (1332-40-7), (F160)copper(2+) sulfate (7758-98-7), (F161) dichlofluanid (1085-98-9), (F162)dithianon (3347-22-6), (F163) dodine (2439-10-3), (F164) dodine freebase, (F165) ferbam (14484-64-1), (F166) fluorofolpet (719-96-0), (F167)folpet (133-07-3), (F168) guazatine (108173-90-6), (F169) guazatineacetate, (F170) iminoctadine (13516-27-3), (F171) iminoctadinealbesilate (169202-06-6), (F172) iminoctadine triacetate (57520-17-9),(F173) mancopper (53988-93-5), (F174) mancozeb (8018-01-7), (F175) maneb(12427-38-2), (F176) metiram (9006-42-2), (F177) metiram zinc(9006-42-2), (F178) oxine-copper (10380-28-6), (F179) propamidine(104-32-5), (F180) propineb (12071-83-9), (F181) sulphur and sulphurpreparations including calcium polysulphide (7704-34-9), (F182) thiram(137-26-8), (F183) tolylfluanid (731-27-1), (F184) zineb (12122-67-7),(F185) ziram (137-30-4);

(6) Compounds capable to induce a host defense, like for example (F186)acibenzolar-S-methyl (135158-54-2), (F187) isotianil (224049-04-1),(F188) probenazole (27605-76-1), (F189) tiadinil (223580-51-6);

(7) Inhibitors of the amino acid and/or protein biosynthesis asexplained before (provided that fungicide (I) and fungicide (II) are notidentical;

(8) Inhibitors of the ATP production as explained before (provided thatfungicide (I) and fungicide (II) are not identical);

(9) Inhibitors of the cell wall synthesis as explained before (providedthat fungicide (I) and fungicide (II) are not identical);

(10) Inhibitors of the lipid and membrane synthesis, for example (F211)biphenyl (92-52-4), (F212) chloroneb (2675-77-6), (F213) dicloran(99-30-9), (F214) edifenphos (17109-49-8), (F215) etridiazole(2593-15-9), (F216) iodocarb (55406-53-6), (F217) iprobenfos(26087-47-8), (F218) isoprothiolane (50512-35-1), (F219) propamocarb(25606-41-1), (F220) propamocarb hydrochloride (25606-41-1), (F221)prothiocarb (19622-08-3), (F222) pyrazophos (13457-18-6), (F223)quintozene (82-68-8), (F224) tecnazene (117-18-0), (F225)tolclofos-methyl (57018-04-9);

(11) Inhibitors of the melanine biosynthesis, for example (F226)carpropamid (104030-54-8), (F227) diclocymet (139920-32-4), (F228)fenoxanil (115852-48-7), (F229) phthalide (27355-22-2), (F230)pyroquilon (57369-32-1), (F231) tricyclazole (41814-78-2), (F232)2,2,2-trifluoroethyl{3-methyl-1-[(4-methylbenzoyl)amino]butan-2-yl}carbamate (851524-22-6);

(12) Inhibitors of the nucleic acid synthesis, for example (F233)benalaxyl (71626-11-4), (F234) benalaxyl-M (kiralaxyl) (98243-83-5),(F235) bupirimate (41483-43-6), (F236) clozylacon (67932-85-8), (F237)dimethirimol (5221-53-4), (F238) ethirimol (23947-60-6), (F239)furalaxyl (57646-30-7), (F240) hymexazol (10004-44-1), (F241) metalaxyl(57837-19-1), (F242) metalaxyl-M (mefenoxam) (70630-17-0), (F243)ofurace (58810-48-3), (F244) oxadixyl (77732-09-3), (F245) oxolinic acid(14698-29-4);

(13) Inhibitors of the signal transduction, for example (F246)chlozolinate (84332-86-5), (F247) fenpiclonil (74738-17-3), (F248)fludioxonil (131341-86-1), (F249) iprodione (36734-19-7), (F250)procymidone (32809-16-8), (F251) quinoxyfen (124495-18-7), (F252)vinclozolin (50471-44-8);

(14) Compounds capable to act as an uncoupler, like for example (F253)binapacryl (485-31-4), (F254) dinocap (131-72-6), (F255) ferimzone(89269-64-7), (F256) fluazinam (79622-59-6), (F257) meptyldinocap(131-72-6);

(15) Further compounds, like for example (F258) benthiazole(21564-17-0), (F259) bethoxazin (163269-30-5), (F260) capsimycin(70694-08-5), (F261) carvone (99-49-0), (F262) chinomethionat(2439-01-2), (F263) pyriofenone (chlazafenone) (688046-61-9), (F264)cufraneb (11096-18-7), (F265) cyflufenamid (180409-60-3), (F266)cymoxanil (57966-95-7), (F267) cyprosulfamide (221667-31-8), (F268)dazomet (533-74-4), (F269) debacarb (62732-91-6), (F270) dichlorophen(97-23-4), (F271) diclomezine (62865-36-5), (F272) difenzoquat(49866-87-7), (F273) difenzoquat methylsulphate (43222-48-6), (F724)diphenylamine (122-39-4), (F275) ecomate, (F276) fenpyrazamine(473798-59-3), (F277) flumetover (154025-04-4), (F278) fluoroimide(41205-21-4), (F279) flusulfamide (106917-52-6), (F280) flutianil(304900-25-2), (F281) fosetyl-aluminium (39148-24-8), (F282)fosetyl-calcium, (F283) fosetyl-sodium (39148-16-8), (F284)hexachlorobenzene (118-74-1), (F285) irumamycin (81604-73-1), (F286)methasulfocarb (66952-49-6), (F287) methyl isothiocyanate (556-61-6),(F288) metrafenone (220899-03-6), (F289) mildiomycin (67527-71-3),(F290) natamycin (7681-93-8), (F291) nickel dimethyldithiocarbamate(15521-65-0), (F292) nitrothal-isopropyl (10552-74-6), (F293)octhilinone (26530-20-1), (F294) oxamocarb (917242-12-7), (F295)oxyfenthiin (34407-87-9), (F296) pentachlorophenol and salts (87-86-5),(F297) phenothrin, (F298) phosphorous acid and its salts (13598-36-2),(F299) propamocarb-fosetylate, (F300) propanosine-sodium (88498-02-6),(F301) proquinazid (189278-12-4), (F302) pyrimorph (868390-90-3), (F303)(2E)-3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-3-(2-chloropyridin-4-yl)-1-(morpholin-4-yl)prop-2-en-1-one(1231776-28-5), (F304)(2Z)-3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-3-(2-chloropyridin-4-yl)-1-(morpholin-4-yl)prop-2-en-1-one(1231776-29-6), (F305) pyrrolnitrine (1018-71-9), (F306) tebufloquin(376645-78-2), (F307) tecloftalam (76280-91-6), (F308) tolnifanide(304911-98-6), (F309) triazoxide (72459-58-6), (F310) trichlamide(70193-21-4), (F311) zarilamid (84527-51-5), (F312)(3S,6S,7R,8R)-8-benzyl-3-[({3-[(isobutyryloxy)methoxy]-4-methoxypyridin-2-yl}carbonyl)amino]-6-methyl-4,9-dioxo-1,5-dioxonan-7-yl2-methylpropanoate (517875-34-2), (F313)1-(4-{4-[(5R)-5-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1,2-oxazol-3-yl]-1,3-thiazol-2-yl}piperidin-1-yl)-2-[5-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]ethanone(1003319-79-6), (F314)1-(4-{4-[(5S)-5-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1,2-oxazol-3-yl]-1,3-thiazol-2-yl}piperidin-1-yl)-2-[5-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]ethanone(1003319-80-9), (F315)1-(4-{4-[5-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1,2-oxazol-3-yl]-1,3-thiazol-2-yl}piperidin-1-yl)-2-[5-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]ethanone(1003318-67-9), (F316) 1-(4-methoxyphenoxy)-3,3-dimethylbutan-2-yl1H-imidazole-1-carboxylate (111227-17-9), (F317)2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-4-(methylsulfonyl)pyridine (13108-52-6), (F318)2,3-dibutyl-6-chlorothieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-one (221451-58-7),(F319)2,6-dimethyl-1H,5H-[1,4]dithiino[2,3-c:5,6-c′]dipyrrole-1,3,5,7(2H,6H)-tetrone,(F320)2-[5-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]-1-(4-{4-[(5R)-5-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1,2-oxazol-3-yl]-1,3-thiazol-2-yl}piperidin-1-yl)ethanone(1003316-53-7), (F321)2-[5-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]-1-(4-{4-[(5S)-5-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1,2-oxazol-3-yl]-1,3-thiazol-2-yl}piperidin-1-yl)ethanone(1003316-54-8), (F322)2-[5-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]-1-{4-[4-(5-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1,2-oxazol-3-yl)-1,3-thiazol-2-yl]piperidin-1-yl}ethanone(1003316-51-5), (F323) 2-butoxy-6-iodo-3-propyl-4H-chromen-4-one, (F324)2-chloro-5-[2-chloro-1-(2,6-difluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)-4-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl]pyridine,(F325) 2-phenylphenol and salts (90-43-7), (F326)3-(4,4,5-trifluoro-3,3-dimethyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-1-yl)quinoline(861647-85-0), (F327) 3,4,5-trichloropyridine-2,6-dicarbonitrile(17824-85-0), (F328)3-[5-(4-chlorophenyl)-2,3-dimethyl-1,2-oxazolidin-3-yl]pyridine, (F329)3-chloro-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-6-methylpyridazine,(F330) 4-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-3,6-dimethylpyridazine,(F331) 5-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thiol, (F332)5-chloro-N′-phenyl-N′-(prop-2-yn-1-yl)thiophene-2-sulfonohydrazide(134-31-6), (F333) 5-fluoro-2-[(4-fluorobenzyl)oxy]pyrimidin-4-amine(1174376-11-4), (F334) 5-fluoro-2-[(4-methylbenzyl)oxy]pyrimidin-4-amine(1174376-25-0), (F335)5-methyl-6-octyl[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-amine, (F336) ethyl(2Z)-3-amino-2-cyano-3-phenylprop-2-enoate, (F337)N′-(4-{[3-(4-chlorobenzyl)-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-yl]oxy}-2,5-dimethylphenyl)-N-ethyl-N-methylimidoformamide,(F338)N-(4-chlorobenzyl)-3-[3-methoxy-4-(prop-2-yn-1-yloxy)phenyl]propanamide,(F339)N-[(4-chlorophenyl)(cyano)methyl]-3-[3-methoxy-4-(prop-2-yn-1-yloxy)phenyl]propanamide,(F340)N-[(5-bromo-3-chloropyridin-2-yl)methyl]-2,4-dichloropyridine-3-carboxamide,(F341)N-[1-(5-bromo-3-chloropyridin-2-yl)ethyl]-2,4-dichloropyridine-3-carboxamide,(F342)N-[1-(5-bromo-3-chloropyridin-2-yl)ethyl]-2-fluoro-4-iodopyridine-3-carboxamide,(F343)N-{(E)-[(cyclopropylmethoxy)imino][6-(difluoromethoxy)-2,3-difluorophenyl]methyl}-2-phenylacetamide(221201-92-9), (F344)N-{(Z)-[(cyclopropylmethoxy)imino][6-(difluoromethoxy)-2,3-difluorophenyl]methyl}-2-phenylacetamide(221201-92-9), (F345)N′-{4-[(3-tert-butyl-4-cyano-1,2-thiazol-5-yl)oxy]-2-chloro-5-methylphenyl}-N-ethyl-N-methylimidoformamide,(F346)N-methyl-2-(1-{[5-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]acetyl}piperidin-4-yl)-N-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-1-yl)-1,3-thiazole-4-carboxamide(922514-49-6), (F347)N-methyl-2-(1-{[5-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]acetyl}piperidin-4-yl)-N-[(1R)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-1-yl]-1,3-thiazole-4-carboxamide(922514-07-6), (F348)N-methyl-2-(1-{[5-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]acetyl}piperidin-4-yl)-N-[(1S)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-1-yl]-1,3-thiazole-4-carboxamide(922514-48-5), (F349) pentyl{6-[({[(1-methyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)(phenyl)methylidene]amino}oxy)methyl]pyridin-2-yl}carbamate,(F350) phenazine-1-carboxylic acid, (F351) quinolin-8-ol (134-31-6),(F352) quinolin-8-ol sulfate (2:1) (134-31-6), (F353) tert-butyl{6-[({[(1-methyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)(phenyl)methylene]amino}oxy)methyl]pyridin-2-yl}carbamate;

(16) Further compounds, like for example (F354)1-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-N-[2′-(trifluoromethyl)biphenyl-2-yl]-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide,(F355)N-(4′-chlorobiphenyl-2-yl)-3-(difluoromethyl)-1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide,(F356)N-(2′,4′-dichlorobiphenyl-2-yl)-3-(difluoromethyl)-1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide,(F357)3-(difluoromethyl)-1-methyl-N-[4′-(trifluoromethyl)biphenyl-2-yl]-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide,(F358)N-(2′,5′-difluorobiphenyl-2-yl)-1-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide,(F359)3-(difluoromethyl)-1-methyl-N-[4′-(prop-1-yn-1-yl)biphenyl-2-yl]-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide,(F360)5-fluoro-1,3-dimethyl-N-[4′-(prop-1-yn-1-yl)biphenyl-2-yl]-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide,(F361)2-chloro-N-[4′-(prop-1-yn-1-yl)biphenyl-2-yl]pyridine-3-carboxamide,(F362)3-(difluoromethyl)-N-[4′-(3,3-dimethylbut-1-yn-1-yl)biphenyl-2-yl]-1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide,(F363)N-[4′-(3,3-dimethylbut-1-yn-1-yl)biphenyl-2-yl]-5-fluoro-1,3-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide,(F364)3-(difluoromethyl)-N-(4′-ethynylbiphenyl-2-yl)-1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide,(F365)N-(4′-ethynylbiphenyl-2-yl)-5-fluoro-1,3-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide,(F366) 2-chloro-N-(4′-ethynylbiphenyl-2-yl)pyridine-3-carboxamide,(F367)2-chloro-N-[4′-(3,3-dimethylbut-1-yn-1-yl)biphenyl-2-yl]pyridine-3-carboxamide,(F368)4-(difluoromethyl)-2-methyl-N-[4′-(trifluoromethyl)biphenyl-2-yl]-1,3-thiazole-5-carboxamide,(F369)5-fluoro-N-[4′-(3-hydroxy-3-methylbut-1-yn-1-yl)biphenyl-2-yl]-1,3-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide,(F370)2-chloro-N-[4′-(3-hydroxy-3-methylbut-1-yn-1-yl)biphenyl-2-yl]pyridine-3-carboxamide,(F371)3-(difluoromethyl)-N-[4′-(3-methoxy-3-methylbut-1-yn-1-yl)biphenyl-2-yl]-1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide,(F372)5-fluoro-N-[4′-(3-methoxy-3-methylbut-1-yn-1-yl)biphenyl-2-yl]-1,3-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide,(F373)2-chloro-N-[4′-(3-methoxy-3-methylbut-1-yn-1-yl)biphenyl-2-yl]pyridine-3-carboxamide,(F374)(5-bromo-2-methoxy-4-methylpyridin-3-yl)(2,3,4-trimethoxy-6-methylphenyl)methanone,(F375)N-[2-(4-{[3-(4-chlorophenyl)prop-2-yn-1-yl]oxy}-3-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]-N2-(methylsulfonyl)valinamide(220706-93-4), (F376) 4-oxo-4-[(2-phenylethyl)amino]butanoic acid,(F377) but-3-yn-1-yl{6-[({[(Z)-(1-methyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)(phenyl)methylene]amino}oxy)methyl]pyridin-2-yl}carbamate,(F378) 4-Amino-5-fluorpyrimidin-2-ol (mesomeric form:6-Amino-5-fluorpyrimidin-2(1H)-on), (F379) propyl3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate and (F380) Oryzastrobin.

Preferably, fungicide (II) is selected from the group consisting of F1,F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7, F8, F9, F10, F11, F12, F13, F14, F15, F16, F17,F18, F19, F20, F21, F22, F23, F24, F25, F26, F27, F28, F29, F30, F31,F32, F33, F34, F35, F36, F37, F38, F39, F40, F41, F42, F43, F45, F46,F47, F48, F49, F50, F51, F52, F53, F54, F55, F56, F57, F58, F59, F60,F61, F62, F63, F64, F65, F66, F67, F68, F69, F70, F71, F72, F73, F74,F75, F76, F77, F78, F79, F80, F81, F82, F83, F84, F85, F86, F87, F88,F89, F90, F91, F92, F93, F94, F95, F96, F97, F98, F99, F100, F101, F102,F103, F104, F105, F106, F107, F108, F109, F110, F111, F112, F113, F114,F115, F116, F117, F118, F119, F120, F121, F122, F123, F124, F125, F126,F127, F128, F129, F130, F131, F132, F133, F134, F135, F136, F137, F138,F139, F140, F141, F142, F143, F144, F145, F146, F147, F148, F149, F150,F151, F152, F153, F154, F155, F156, F157, F158, F159, F160, F161, F162,F163, F164, F165, F166, F167, F168, F169, F170, F171, F172, F173, F174,F175, F176, F177, F178, F179, F180, F181, F182, F183, F184, F185, F186,F187, F188, F189, F190, F191, F192, F193, F194, F195, F196, F197, F198,F199, F200, F201, F202, F203, F204, F205, F206, F207, F208, F209, F210,F211, F212, F213, F214, F215, F216, F217, F218, F219, F220, F221, F222,F223, F224, F225, F226, F227, F228, F229, F230, F231, F232, F233, F234,F235, F236, F237, F238, F239, F240, F241, F242, F243, F244, F245, F246,F247, F248, F249, F250, F251, F252, F253, F254, F255, F256, F257, F258,F259, F260, F261, F262, F263, F264, F265, F266, F267, F268, F269, F270,F271, F272, F273, F274, F275, F276, F277, F278, F279, F280, F281, F282,F283, F284, F285, F286, F287, F288, F289, F290, F291, F292, F293, F294,F295, F296, F297, F298, F299, F300, F301, F302, F303, F304, F305, F306,F307, F308, F309, F310, F311, F312, F313, F314, F315, F316, F317, F318,F319, F320, F321, F322, F323, F324, F325, F326, F327, F328, F329, F330,F331, F332, F333, F334, F335, F336, F336, F337, F338, F339, F340, F341,F342, F343, F344, F345, F346, F347, F348, F349, F350, F351, F352, F353,F354, F355, F356, F357, F358, F359, F360, F361, F362, F363, F364, F365,F366, F367, F368, F369, F370, F371, F372, F373, F374, F375, F376, F377,F378, F379 and F380 as mentioned above.

According to a more preferred embodiment of the present inventionfungicide (II) is selected from the group consisting of F3, F4, F5, F7,F12, F16, F17, F18, F19, F22, F26, F29, F30, F31, F37, F39, F40, F41,F44, F46, F47, F51, F55, F66, F67, F70, F71, F72, F73, F75, F76, F77,F78, F79, F80, F81, F84, F85, F86, F87, F98, F99, F100, F101, F102,F105, F106, F107, F108, F111, F112, F113, F114, F116, F117, F118, F119,F120, F121, F124, F126, F139, F140, F141, F142, F143, F144, F145, F147,F149, F154, F155, F156, F159, F162, F163, F167, F168, F172, F174, F180,F181, F182, F186, F187, F189, F192, F196, F201, F202, F203, F205, F206,F210, F216, F217, F220, F225, F226, F233, F234, F239, F240, F241, F242,F244, F247, F248, F249, F251, F252, F256, F266, F280, F281, F286, F287,F288, F298, F301, F309 and F319 as mentioned above.

Further Additives

One aspect of the present invention is to provide a composition asdescribed above additionally comprising at least one auxiliary selectedfrom the group consisting of extenders, solvents, spontaneity promoters,carriers, emulsifiers, dispersants, frost protectants, thickeners andadjuvants. Those compositions are referred to as formulations.

Accordingly, in one aspect of the present invention such formulations,and application forms prepared from them, are provided as cropprotection agents and/or pesticidal agents, such as drench, drip andspray liquors, comprising the composition of the invention. Theapplication forms may comprise further crop protection agents and/orpesticidal agents, and/or activity-enhancing adjuvants such aspenetrants, examples being vegetable oils such as, for example, rapeseedoil, sunflower oil, mineral oils such as, for example, liquid paraffins,alkyl esters of vegetable fatty acids, such as rapeseed oil or soybeanoil methyl esters, or alkanol alkoxylates, and/or spreaders such as, forexample, alkylsiloxanes and/or salts, examples being organic orinorganic ammonium or phosphonium salts, examples being ammoniumsulphate or diammonium hydrogen phosphate, and/or retention promoterssuch as dioctyl sulphosuccinate or hydroxypropylguar polymers and/orhumectants such as glycerol and/or fertilizers such as ammonium,potassium or phosphorous fertilizers, for example.

Examples of typical formulations include water-soluble liquids (SL),emulsifiable concentrates (EC), emulsions in water (EW), suspensionconcentrates (SC, SE, FS, OD), water-dispersible granules (WG), granules(GR) and capsule concentrates (CS); these and other possible types offormulation are described, for example, by Crop Life International andin “Pesticide Specifications, Manual on Development and Use of FAO andWHO Specifications for Pesticides,” FAO Plant Production and ProtectionPapers—173, prepared by the FAO/WHO Joint Meeting on PesticideSpecifications, 2004, ISBN: 9251048576. The formulations may compriseactive agrochemical compounds other than one or more active compounds ofthe invention.

The formulations or application forms in question preferably compriseauxiliaries, such as extenders, solvents, spontaneity promoters,carriers, emulsifiers, dispersants, frost protectants, biocides,thickeners and/or other auxiliaries, such as adjuvants, for example. Anadjuvant in this context is a component which enhances the biologicaleffect of the formulation, without the component itself having abiological effect. Examples of adjuvants are agents which promote theretention, spreading, attachment to the leaf surface, or penetration.

These formulations are produced in a known manner, for example by mixingthe active compounds with auxiliaries such as, for example, extenders,solvents and/or solid carriers and/or further auxiliaries, such as, forexample, surfactants. The formulations are prepared in suitable plantsor else before or during the application.

Suitable for use as auxiliaries are substances which are suitable forimparting to the formulation of the active compound or the applicationforms prepared from these formulations (such as, e.g., usable cropprotection agents, such as spray liquors or seed dressings) particularproperties such as certain physical, technical and/or biologicalproperties.

Suitable extenders are, for example, water, polar and nonpolar organicchemical liquids, for example from the classes of the aromatic andnon-aromatic hydrocarbons (such as paraffins, alkylbenzenes,alkylnaphthalenes, chlorobenzenes), the alcohols and polyols (which, ifappropriate, may also be substituted, etherified and/or esterified), theketones (such as acetone, cyclohexanone), esters (including fats andoils) and (poly)ethers, the unsubstituted and substituted amines,amides, lactams (such as N-alkylpyrrolidones) and lactones, thesulphones and sulphoxides (such as dimethyl sulphoxide).

If the extender used is water, it is also possible to employ, forexample, organic solvents as auxiliary solvents. Essentially, suitableliquid solvents are: aromatics such as xylene, toluene oralkylnaphthalenes, chlorinated aromatics and chlorinated aliphatichydrocarbons such as chlorobenzenes, chloroethylenes or methylenechloride, aliphatic hydrocarbons such as cyclohexane or paraffins, forexample petroleum fractions, mineral and vegetable oils, alcohols suchas butanol or glycol and also their ethers and esters, ketones such asacetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone or cyclohexanone,strongly polar solvents such as dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide anddimethyl sulphoxide, and also water. Preferred auxiliary solvents areselected from the group consisting of acetone andN,N′-dimethylacetamide.

In principle it is possible to use all suitable solvents. Suitablesolvents are, for example, aromatic hydrocarbons, such as xylene,toluene or alkylnaphthalenes, for example, chlorinated aromatic oraliphatic hydrocarbons, such as chlorobenzene, chloroethylene ormethylene chloride, for example, aliphatic hydrocarbons, such ascyclohexane, for example, paraffins, petroleum fractions, mineral andvegetable oils, alcohols, such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol,butanol or glycol, for example, and also their ethers and esters,ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone orcyclohexanone, for example, strongly polar solvents, such as dimethylsulphoxide, and water.

All suitable carriers may in principle be used. Suitable carriers are inparticular: for example, ammonium salts and ground natural minerals suchas kaolins, clays, talc, chalk, quartz, attapulgite, montmorillonite ordiatomaceous earth, and ground synthetic minerals, such as finelydivided silica, alumina and natural or synthetic silicates, resins,waxes and/or solid fertilizers. Mixtures of such carriers may likewisebe used. Carriers suitable for granules include the following: forexample, crushed and fractionated natural minerals such as calcite,marble, pumice, sepiolite, dolomite, and also synthetic granules ofinorganic and organic meals, and also granules of organic material suchas sawdust, paper, coconut shells, maize cobs and tobacco stalks.

Liquefied gaseous extenders or solvents may also be used. Particularlysuitable are those extenders or carriers which at standard temperatureand under standard pressure are gaseous, examples being aerosolpropellants, such as halogenated hydrocarbons, and also butane, propane,nitrogen and carbon dioxide.

Examples of emulsifiers and/or foam-formers, dispersants or wettingagents having ionic or nonionic properties, or mixtures of thesesurface-active substances, are salts of polyacrylic acid, salts oflignosulphonic acid, salts of phenolsulphonic acid ornaphthalenesulphonic acid, polycondensates of ethylene oxide with fattyalcohols or with fatty acids or with fatty amines, with substitutedphenols (preferably alkylphenols or arylphenols), salts ofsulphosuccinic esters, taurine derivatives (preferably alkyltaurates),phosphoric esters of polyethoxylated alcohols or phenols, fatty acidesters of polyols, and derivatives of the compounds containingsulphates, sulphonates and phosphates, examples being alkylarylpolyglycol ethers, alkylsulphonates, alkyl sulphates, arylsulphonates,protein hydrolysates, lignin-sulphite waste liquors and methylcellulose.The presence of a surface-active substance is advantageous if one of theactive compounds and/or one of the inert carriers is not soluble inwater and if application takes place in water. Preferred emulsifiers arealkylaryl polyglycol ethers.

Further auxiliaries that may be present in the formulations and in theapplication forms derived from them include colorants such as inorganicpigments, examples being iron oxide, titanium oxide, Prussian Blue, andorganic dyes, such as alizarin dyes, azo dyes and metal phthalocyaninedyes, and nutrients and trace nutrients, such as salts of iron,manganese, boron, copper, cobalt, molybdenum and zinc.

Stabilizers, such as low-temperature stabilizers, preservatives,antioxidants, light stabilizers or other agents which improve chemicaland/or physical stability may also be present. Additionally present maybe foam-formers or defoamers.

Furthermore, the formulations and application forms derived from themmay also comprise, as additional auxiliaries, stickers such ascarboxymethylcellulose, natural and synthetic polymers in powder,granule or latex form, such as gum arabic, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylacetate, and also natural phospholipids, such as cephalins andlecithins, and synthetic phospholipids. Further possible auxiliariesinclude mineral and vegetable oils.

There may possibly be further auxiliaries present in the formulationsand the application forms derived from them. Examples of such additivesinclude fragrances, protective colloids, binders, adhesives, thickeners,thixotropic substances, penetrants, retention promoters, stabilizers,sequestrants, complexing agents, humectants and spreaders. Generallyspeaking, the active compounds may be combined with any solid or liquidadditive commonly used for formulation purposes.

Suitable retention promoters include all those substances which reducethe dynamic surface tension, such as dioctyl sulphosuccinate, orincrease the viscoelasticity, such as hydroxypropylguar polymers, forexample.

Suitable penetrants in the present context include all those substanceswhich are typically used in order to enhance the penetration of activeagrochemical compounds into plants. Penetrants in this context aredefined in that, from the (generally aqueous) application liquor and/orfrom the spray coating, they are able to penetrate the cuticle of theplant and thereby increase the mobility of the active compounds in thecuticle. This property can be determined using the method described inthe literature (Baur et al., 1997, Pesticide Science 51, 131-152).Examples include alcohol alkoxylates such as coconut fatty ethoxylate(10) or isotridecyl ethoxylate (12), fatty acid esters such as rapeseedor soybean oil methyl esters, fatty amine alkoxylates such astallowamine ethoxylate (15), or ammonium and/or phosphonium salts suchas ammonium sulphate or diammonium hydrogen phosphate, for example.

The formulations preferably comprise between 0.00000001% and 98% byweight of active compound or, with particular preference, between 0.01%and 95% by weight of active compound, more preferably between 0.5% and90% by weight of active compound, based on the weight of theformulation. The content of the active compound is defined as the sum ofthe at least one biological control agent and the at least one fungicide(I).

The active compound content of the application forms (crop protectionproducts) prepared from the formulations may vary within wide ranges.The active compound concentration of the application forms may besituated typically between 0.00000001% and 95% by weight of activecompound, preferably between 0.00001% and 1% by weight, based on theweight of the application form. Application takes place in a customarymanner adapted to the application forms.

Kit of Parts

Furthermore, in one aspect of the present invention a kit of parts isprovided comprising at least one biological control agent selected fromthe group consisting of Bacillus chitinosporus AQ746 (NRRL Accession No.B-21618), Bacillus mycoides AQ726 (NRRL Accession No. B-21664), Bacilluspumilus (NRRL Accession No. B-30087), Bacillus pumilus AQ717 (NRRLAccession No. B-21662), Bacillus sp. AQ175 (ATCC Accession No. 55608),Bacillus sp. AQ177 (ATCC Accession No. 55609), Bacillus sp. AQ178 (ATCCAccession No. 53522), Bacillus subtilis AQ743 (NRRL Accession No.B-21665), Bacillus subtilis AQ713 (NRRL Accession No. B-21661), Bacillussubtilis AQ153 (ATCC Accession No. 55614), Bacillus thuringiensis BD#32(NRRL Accession No. B-21530), Bacillus thuringiensis AQ52 (NRRLAccession No. B-21619), Muscodor albus 620 (NRRL Accession No. 30547),Muscodor roseus A3-5 (NRRL Accession No. 30548), Rhodococcus globerulusAQ719 (NRRL Accession No. B-21663), Streptomyces galbus (NRRL AccessionNo. 30232), Streptomyces sp. (NRRL Accession No. B-30145), Bacillusthuringiensis subspec. kurstaki BMP 123, Bacillus subtilis AQ30002 (NRRLAccession No. B-50421), and Bacillus subtilis AQ 30004 (NRRL AccessionNo. B-50455) and/or a mutant of these strains having all the identifyingcharacteristics of the respective strain, and/or a metabolite producedby the respective strain that exhibits activity against insects, mites,nematodes and/or phytopathogens and at least one fungicide (I) selectedfrom the group consisting of inhibitors of the amino acid and/or proteinbiosynthesis, inhibitors of the ATP production and inhibitors of thecell wall synthesis in a synergistically effective amount, in aspatially separated arrangement.

In a further embodiment of the present invention the above-mentioned kitof parts further comprises at least one additional fungicide (II), withthe proviso that the biological control agent, fungicide (I) andfungicide (II) are not identical. Fungicide (II) can be present eitherin the biological control agent component of the kit of parts or in thefungicide (I) component of the kit of parts being spatially separated orin both of these components. Preferably, fungicide (II) is present inthe fungicide (I) component.

Moreover, the kit of parts according to the present invention canadditionally comprise at least one auxiliary selected from the groupconsisting of extenders, solvents, spontaneity promoters, carriers,emulsifiers, dispersants, frost protectants, thickeners and adjuvants asmentioned below. This at least one auxiliary can be present either inthe biological control agent component of the kit of parts or in thefungicide (I) component of the kit of parts being spatially separated orin both of these components.

In another aspect of the present invention the composition as describedabove is used for reducing overall damage of plants and plant parts aswell as losses in harvested fruits or vegetables caused by insects,mites, nematodes and/or phytopathogens.

Furthermore, in another aspect of the present invention the compositionas described above increases the overall plant health.

The term “plant health” generally comprises various sorts ofimprovements of plants that are not connected to the control of pests.For example, advantageous properties that may be mentioned are improvedcrop characteristics including: emergence, crop yields, protein content,oil content, starch content, more developed root system, improved rootgrowth, improved root size maintenance, improved root effectiveness,improved stress tolerance (e.g., against drought, heat, salt, UV, water,cold), reduced ethylene (reduced production and/or inhibition ofreception), tillering increase, increase in plant height, bigger leafblade, less dead basal leaves, stronger tillers, greener leaf color,pigment content, photosynthetic activity, less input needed (such asfertilizers or water), less seeds needed, more productive tillers,earlier flowering, early grain maturity, less plant verse (lodging),increased shoot growth, enhanced plant vigor, increased plant stand andearly and better germination.

With regard to the use according to the present invention, improvedplant health preferably refers to improved plant characteristicsincluding: crop yield, more developed root system (improved rootgrowth), improved root size maintenance, improved root effectiveness,tillering increase, increase in plant height, bigger leaf blade, lessdead basal leaves, stronger tillers, greener leaf color, photosyntheticactivity, more productive tillers, enhanced plant vigor, and increasedplant stand.

With regard to the present invention, improved plant health preferablyespecially refers to improved plant properties selected from crop yield,more developed root system, improved root growth, improved root sizemaintenance, improved root effectiveness, tillering increase, andincrease in plant height.

The effect of a composition according to the present invention on planthealth as defined herein can be determined by comparing plants which aregrown under the same environmental conditions, whereby a part of saidplants is treated with a composition according to the present inventionand another part of said plants is not treated with a compositionaccording to the present invention. Instead, said other part is nottreated at all or treated with a placebo (i.e., an application without acomposition according to the invention such as an application withoutall active ingredients (i.e. without a biological control agent asdescribed herein and without a fungicide as described herein), or anapplication without a biological control agent as described herein, oran application without a fungicide as described herein.

The composition according to the present invention may be applied in anydesired manner, such as in the form of a seed coating, soil drench,and/or directly in-furrow and/or as a foliar spray and applied eitherpre-emergence, post-emergence or both. In other words, the compositioncan be applied to the seed, the plant or to harvested fruits andvegetables or to the soil wherein the plant is growing or wherein it isdesired to grow (plant's locus of growth).

Reducing the overall damage of plants and plant parts often results inhealthier plants and/or in an increase in plant vigor and yield.

Preferably, the composition according to the present invention is usedfor treating conventional or transgenic plants or seed thereof.

In another aspect of the present invention a method for reducing overalldamage of plants and plant parts as well as losses in harvested fruitsor vegetables caused by insects, mites, nematodes and/or phytopathogensis provided comprising the step of simultaneously or sequentiallyapplying at least one biological control agent selected from the groupconsisting of Bacillus chitinosporus AQ746 (NRRL Accession No. B-21618),Bacillus mycoides AQ726 (NRRL Accession No. B-21664), Bacillus pumilus(NRRL Accession No. B-30087), Bacillus pumilus AQ717 (NRRL Accession No.B-21662), Bacillus sp. AQ175 (ATCC Accession No. 55608), Bacillus sp.AQ177 (ATCC Accession No. 55609), Bacillus sp. AQ178 (ATCC Accession No.53522), Bacillus subtilis AQ743 (NRRL Accession No. B-21665), Bacillussubtilis AQ713 (NRRL Accession No. B-21661), Bacillus subtilis AQ 153(ATCC Accession No. 55614), Bacillus thuringiensis BD#32 (NRRL AccessionNo. B-21530), Bacillus thuringiensis AQ52 (NRRL Accession No. B-21619),Muscodor albus 620 (NRRL Accession No. 30547), Muscodor roseus A3-5(NRRL Accession No. 30548), Rhodococcus globerulus AQ719 (NRRL AccessionNo. B-21663), Streptomyces galbus (NRRL Accession No. 30232),Streptomyces sp. (NRRL Accession No. B-30145), Bacillus thuringiensissubspec. kurstaki BMP 123, Bacillus subtilis AQ30002 (NRRL Accession No.B-50421), and Bacillus subtilis AQ 30004 (NRRL Accession No. B-50455)and/or a mutant of these strains having all the identifyingcharacteristics of the respective strain, and/or a metabolite producedby the respective strain that exhibits activity against insects, mites,nematodes and/or phytopathogens and at least one fungicide (I) selectedfrom the group consisting of inhibitors of the amino acid and/or proteinbiosynthesis, inhibitors of the ATP production and inhibitors of thecell wall synthesis in a synergistically effective amount.

In a preferred embodiment of the present method the at least onefungicide (I) is selected from the group of fungicides mentioned above.

In another preferred embodiment of the present method the compositionfurther comprises at least one additional fungicide (II), with theproviso that the biological control agent, fungicide (I) and fungicide(II) are not identical.

Preferably, the at least one additional fungicide (II) is a syntheticfungicide. More preferably, fungicide (II) is selected from the group ofpreferred fungicides (II) mentioned above.

The method of the present invention includes the following applicationmethods, namely both of the at least one biological control agent andthe at least one fungicide (I) mentioned before may be formulated into asingle, stable composition with an agriculturally acceptable shelf life(so called “solo-formulation”), or being combined before or at the timeof use (so called “combined-formulations”).

If not mentioned otherwise, the expression “combination” stands for thevarious combinations of the at least one biological control agent andthe at least one fungicide (I), and optionally the at least onefungicide (II), in a solo-formulation, in a single “ready-mix” form, ina combined spray mixture composed from solo-formulations, such as a“tank-mix”, and especially in a combined use of the single activeingredients when applied in a sequential manner, i.e., one after theother within a reasonably short period, such as a few hours or days,e.g., 2 hours to 7 days. The order of applying the composition accordingto the present invention is not essential for working the presentinvention. Accordingly, the term “combination” also encompasses thepresence of the at least one biological control agent and the at leastone fungicide (I), and optionally the at least one fungicide (II) on orin a plant to be treated or its surrounding, habitat or storage space,e.g., after simultaneously or consecutively applying the at least onebiological control agent and the at least one fungicide (I), andoptionally the at least one fungicide (II) to a plant its surrounding,habitat or storage space.

If the at least one biological control agent and the at least onefungicide (I), and optionally the at least one fungicide (II) areemployed or used in a sequential manner, it is preferred to treat theplants or plant parts (which includes seeds and plants emerging from theseed), harvested fruits and vegetables according to the followingmethod: Firstly applying the at least one fungicide (I) and optionallythe at least one fungicide (II) on the plant or plant parts, andsecondly applying the biological control agent to the same plant orplant parts. The time periods between the first and the secondapplication within a (crop) growing cycle may vary and depend on theeffect to be achieved. For example, the first application is done toprevent an infestation of the plant or plant parts with insects, mites,nematodes and/or phytopathogens (this is particularly the case whentreating seeds) or to combat the infestation with insects, mites,nematodes and/or phytopathogens (this is particularly the case whentreating plants and plant parts) and the second application is done toprevent or control the infestation with insects, mites, nematodes and/orphytopathogens. Control in this context means that the biologicalcontrol agent is not able to fully exterminate the pests orphytopathogenic fungi but is able to keep the infestation on anacceptable level.

By following the before mentioned steps, a very low level of residues ofthe at least one fungicide (I), and optionally at least one fungicide(II) on the treated plant, plant parts, and the harvested fruits andvegetables can be achieved.

If not mentioned otherwise the treatment of plants or plant parts (whichincludes seeds and plants emerging from the seed), harvested fruits andvegetables with the composition according to the invention is carriedout directly or by action on their surroundings, habitat or storagespace using customary treatment methods, for example dipping, spraying,atomizing, irrigating, evaporating, dusting, fogging, broadcasting,foaming, painting, spreading-on, watering (drenching), drip irrigating.It is furthermore possible to apply the at least one biological controlagent, the at least one fungicide (I), and optionally the at least onefungicide (II) as solo-formulation or combined-formulations by theultra-low volume method, or to inject the composition according to thepresent invention as a composition or as sole-formulations into the soil(in-furrow).

The term “plant to be treated” encompasses every part of a plantincluding its root system and the material—e.g., soil or nutritionmedium—which is in a radius of at least 10 cm, 20 cm, 30 cm around thecaulis or bole of a plant to be treated or which is at least 10 cm, 20cm, 30 cm around the root system of said plant to be treated,respectively.

The amount of the biological control agent which is used or employed incombination with the at least one fungicide (I), optionally in thepresence of at least one fungicide (II), depends on the finalformulation as well as size or type of the plant, plant parts, seeds,harvested fruits and vegetables to be treated. Usually, the biologicalcontrol agent to be employed or used according to the invention ispresent in about 2% to about 80% (w/w), preferably in about 5% to about75% (w/w), more preferably about 10% to about 70% (w/w) of itssolo-formulation or combined-formulation with the at least one fungicide(I), and optionally the fungicide (II).

In a preferred embodiment the biological control agent or e.g., theirspores are present in a solo-formulation or the combined-formulation ina concentration of at least 10⁵ colony forming units per grampreparation (e.g., cells/g preparation, spores/g preparation), such as10⁵-10¹² cfu/g, preferably 10⁶-10¹¹ cfu/g, more preferably 10⁷-10¹⁰cfu/g and most preferably 10⁹-10¹⁰ cfu/g at the time point of applyingbiological control agents on a plant or plant parts such as seeds,fruits or vegetables. Also references to the concentration of biologicalcontrol agents in form of, e.g., spores or cells—when discussing ratiosbetween the amount of a preparation of at least one biological controlagent and the amount of fungicide (I)—are made in view of the time pointwhen the biological control agent is applied on a plant or plant partssuch as seeds, fruits or vegetables.

Also the amount of the at least one fungicide (I) which is used oremployed in combination with the biological control agent, optionally inthe presence of a fungicide (II), depends on the final formulation aswell as size or type of the plant, plant parts, seeds, harvested fruitor vegetable to be treated. Usually, the fungicide (I) to be employed orused according to the invention is present in about 0.1% to about 80%(w/w), preferably 1% to about 60% (w/w), more preferably about 10% toabout 50% (w/w) of its solo-formulation or combined-formulation with thebiological control agent, and optionally the at least one fungicide(II).

The at least one biological control agent and the at least one fungicide(I), and if present also the fungicide (II) are used or employed in asynergistic weight ratio. The skilled person is able to find out thesynergistic weight ratios for the present invention by routine methods.The skilled person understands that these ratios refer to the ratiowithin a combined-formulation as well as to the calculative ratio of theat least one biological control agent described herein and the fungicide(I) when both components are applied as mono-formulations to a plant tobe treated. The skilled person can calculate this ratio by simplemathematics since the volume and the amount of the biological controlagent and fungicide (I), respectively, in a mono-formulation is known tothe skilled person.

The ratio can be calculated based on the amount of the at least onefungicide (I), at the time point of applying said component of acombination according to the invention to a plant or plant part and theamount of a biological control agent shortly prior (e.g., 48 h, 24 h, 12h, 6 h, 2 h, 1 h) or at the time point of applying said component of acombination according to the invention to a plant or plant part.

The application of the at least one biological control agent and the atleast one fungicide (I) to a plant or a plant part can take placesimultaneously or at different times as long as both components arepresent on or in the plant after the application(s). In cases where thebiological control agent and fungicide (I) are applied at differenttimes and fungicide (I) is applied noticeable prior to the biologicalcontrol agent, the skilled person can determine the concentration offungicide (I) on/in a plant by chemical analysis known in the art, atthe time point or shortly before the time point of applying thebiological control agent. Vice versa, when the biological control agentis applied to a plant first, the concentration of a biological controlagent can be determined using test which are also known in the art, atthe time point or shortly before the time point of applying fungicide(I).

In particular, in one embodiment the synergistic weight ratio of the atleast one biological control agent/spore preparation and the at leastfungicide (I) lies in the range of 1:500 to 1000:1, preferably in therange of 1:500 to 500:1, more preferably in the range of 1:500 to 300:1.It has to be noted that these ratio ranges refer to the biologicalcontrol agent/spores preparation (to be combined with at least onefungicide (I) or a preparation of at least one fungicide (I)) of around10¹⁰ cells/spores per gram preparation of said cells/spores. Forexample, a ratio of 100:1 means 100 weight parts of a biological controlagent/spore preparation having a cell/spore concentration of 10¹⁰cells/spores per gram preparation and 1 weight part of fungicide (I) arecombined (either as a solo formulation, a combined formulation or byseparate applications to plants so that the combination is formed on theplant).

In another embodiment, the synergistic weight ratio of the at least onebiological control agent/spore preparation to fungicide (I) is in therange of 1:100 to 20,000:1, preferably in the range of 1:50 to 10,000:1or even in the range of 1:50 to 1,000:1. Once again the mentioned ratiosranges refer to biological control agent/spore preparations ofbiological control agents of around 10¹⁰ cells or spores per grampreparation of said biological control agent. In particular, in thisembodiment the biological control agent preferably is selected from thegroup consisting of Muscodor albus 620 (NRRL Accession No. 30547) andMuscodor roseus A3-5 (NRRL Accession No. 30548).

Still in another embodiment, the synergistic weight ratio of the atleast one biological control agent/spore preparation to the fungicide(I) is in the range of 1:0.0001 to 1:1, preferably in the range of1:0.0005 to 1:0.5 or even in the range of 1:0.001 to 1:0.25. Here thementioned ratio ranges refer to the amount in ppm of the BCA and thefungicide, wherein the amount of the biological control agent refers tothe dried content of the BCA solution.

In particular, in one embodiment the biological control agent preferablyis Bacillus subtilis AQ30002 which is mentioned above as B19. Inparticular a solution of B19 is preferred which contains 1.34% of theBCA which refers to 8.5×10⁸ CFU/g. Most preferably, when B19 is used asa BCA, the synergistic weight ratio of at least B19 to the fungicide (I)is 1:0.2.

In another embodiment, the biological control agent is Bacillus subtilisAQ713 which is mentioned above as B9. In particular, a solution of B9 ispreferred which contains 1.34% of the BCA which refers to a minimum of1×10⁹ CFU/g. When B9 is used as a BCA, the synergistic weight ratio ofat least B9 to the fungicide (I) may be in the range of 1:0.0001 to 1:1,preferably in the range of 1:0.0005 to 1:0.5 or even in the range of1:0.001 to 1:0.25. In one embodiment, the ratio of at least B9 to thefungicide (I) is 1:0.05.

In certain aspects, the ratio of biological control agent to fungicide(I) is in the range of 1:0.0001 to 1:1, e.g., any range within 1:0.0001to 1:1, such as 1:0.001 to 1:1, 1:0.01 to 1:1, 1:0.01 to 1:0.1, 1:0.001to 1:0.1, etc.

The cell/spore concentration of preparations can be determined byapplying methods known in the art. To compare weight ratios of thebiological control agent/spore preparation to fungicide (I), the skilledperson can easily determine the factor between a preparation having abiological control agent/spore concentration different from 10¹⁰cells/spores per gram cell/spore preparation and a preparation having abiological control agent/spore concentration of 10¹⁰ cells/spores pergram preparation to calculate whether a ratio of a biological controlagent/spore preparation to fungicide (I) is within the scope of theabove listed ratio ranges.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the concentration of thebiological control agent after dispersal is at least 50 g/ha, such as50-7500 g/ha, 50-2500 g/ha, 50-1500 g/ha; at least 250 g/ha (hectare),at least 500 g/ha or at least 800 g/ha.

The application rate of composition to be employed or used according tothe present invention may vary. The skilled person is able to find theappropriate application rate by way of routine experiments.

Seed Treatment

In another aspect of the present invention a seed treated with thecomposition as described above is provided.

The control of insects, mites, nematodes and/or phytopathogens bytreating the seed of plants has been known for a long time and is asubject of continual improvements. Nevertheless, the treatment of seedentails a series of problems which cannot always be solved in asatisfactory manner. Thus, it is desirable to develop methods forprotecting the seed and the germinating plant that remove the need for,or at least significantly reduce, the additional delivery of cropprotection compositions in the course of storage, after sowing or afterthe emergence of the plants. It is desirable, furthermore, to optimizethe amount of active ingredient employed in such a way as to provide thebest-possible protection to the seed and the germinating plant fromattack by insects, mites, nematodes and/or phytopathogens, but withoutcausing damage to the plant itself by the active ingredient employed. Inparticular, methods for treating seed ought also to take intoconsideration the intrinsic insecticidal and/or nematicidal propertiesof pest-resistant or pest-tolerant transgenic plants, in order toachieve optimum protection of the seed and of the germinating plant witha minimal use of crop protection compositions.

The present invention therefore also relates in particular to a methodfor protecting seed and germinating plants from attack by pests, bytreating the seed with at least one biological control agent as definedabove and/or a mutant of it having all identifying characteristics ofthe respective strain, and/or a metabolite produced by the respectivestrain that exhibits activity against insects, mites, nematodes and/orphytopathogens and at least one fungicide (I) selected from the groupconsisting of inhibitors of the amino acid and/or protein biosynthesis,inhibitors of the ATP production and inhibitors of the cell wallsynthesis and optionally at least one fungicide (II) of the invention.The method of the invention for protecting seed and germinating plantsfrom attack by pests encompasses a method in which the seed is treatedsimultaneously in one operation with the at least one biological controlagent and the at least one fungicide (I), and optionally the at leastone fungicide (II). It also encompasses a method in which the seed istreated at different times with the at least one biological controlagent and the at least one fungicide (I), and optionally the at leastone fungicide (II).

The invention likewise relates to the use of the composition of theinvention for treating seed for the purpose of protecting the seed andthe resultant plant against insects, mites, nematodes and/orphytopathogens.

The invention also relates to seed which at the same time has beentreated with at least one biological control agent and the at least onefungicide (I), and optionally at least one fungicide (II). The inventionfurther relates to seed which has been treated at different times withthe at least one biological control agent and the at least one fungicide(I) and optionally the at least one fungicide (II). In the case of seedwhich has been treated at different times with the at least onebiological control agent and the at least one fungicide (I), andoptionally the at least one fungicide (II), the individual activeingredients in the composition of the invention may be present indifferent layers on the seed.

Furthermore, the invention relates to seed which, following treatmentwith the composition of the invention, is subjected to a film-coatingprocess in order to prevent dust abrasion of the seed.

One of the advantages of the present invention is that, owing to theparticular systemic properties of the compositions of the invention, thetreatment of the seed with these compositions provides protection frominsects, mites, nematodes and/or phytopathogens not only to the seeditself but also to the plants originating from the seed, after they haveemerged. In this way, it may not be necessary to treat the crop directlyat the time of sowing or shortly thereafter.

A further advantage is to be seen in the fact that, through thetreatment of the seed with composition of the invention, germination andemergence of the treated seed may be promoted.

It is likewise considered to be advantageous composition of theinvention may also be used, in particular, on transgenic seed.

It is also stated that the composition of the invention may be used incombination with agents of the signalling technology, as a result ofwhich, for example, colonization with symbionts is improved, such asrhizobia, mycorrhiza and/or endophytic bacteria, for example, isenhanced, and/or nitrogen fixation is optimized.

The compositions of the invention are suitable for protecting seed ofany variety of plant which is used in agriculture, in greenhouses, inforestry or in horticulture. More particularly, the seed in question isthat of cereals (e.g., wheat, barley, rye, oats and millet), maize,cotton, soybeans, rice, potatoes, sunflower, coffee, tobacco, canola,oilseed rape, beets (e.g., sugar beet and fodder beet), peanuts,vegetables (e.g., tomato, cucumber, bean, brassicas, onions andlettuce), fruit plants, lawns and ornamentals. Particularly important isthe treatment of the seed of cereals (such as wheat, barley, rye andoats) maize, soybeans, cotton, canola, oilseed rape and rice.

As already mentioned above, the treatment of transgenic seed with thecomposition of the invention is particularly important. The seed inquestion here is that of plants which generally contain at least oneheterologous gene that controls the expression of a polypeptide having,in particular, insecticidal and/or nematicidal properties. Theseheterologous genes in transgenic seed may come from microorganisms suchas Bacillus, Rhizobium, Pseudomonas, Serratia, Trichoderma, Clavibacter,Glomus or Gliocladium. The present invention is particularly suitablefor the treatment of transgenic seed which contains at least oneheterologous gene from Bacillus sp. With particular preference, theheterologous gene in question comes from Bacillus thuringiensis.

For the purposes of the present invention, the composition of theinvention is applied alone or in a suitable formulation to the seed. Theseed is preferably treated in a condition in which its stability is suchthat no damage occurs in the course of the treatment. Generallyspeaking, the seed may be treated at any point in time betweenharvesting and sowing. Typically, seed is used which has been separatedfrom the plant and has had cobs, hulls, stems, husks, hair or pulpremoved. Thus, for example, seed may be used that has been harvested,cleaned and dried to a moisture content of less than 15% by weight.Alternatively, seed can also be used that after drying has been treatedwith water, for example, and then dried again.

When treating seed it is necessary, generally speaking, to ensure thatthe amount of the composition of the invention, and/or of otheradditives, that is applied to the seed is selected such that thegermination of the seed is not adversely affected, and/or that the plantwhich emerges from the seed is not damaged. This is the case inparticular with active ingredients which may exhibit phytotoxic effectsat certain application rates.

The compositions of the invention can be applied directly, in otherwords without comprising further components and without having beendiluted. As a general rule, it is preferable to apply the compositionsin the form of a suitable formulation to the seed. Suitable formulationsand methods for seed treatment are known to the skilled person and aredescribed in, for example, the following documents: U.S. Pat. Nos.4,272,417; 4,245,432; 4,808,430; 5,876,739; U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. U.S. 2003/0176428, WO 2002/080675 A1, WO 2002/028186A2.

The combinations which can be used in accordance with the invention maybe converted into the customary seed-dressing formulations, such assolutions, emulsions, suspensions, powders, foams, slurries or othercoating compositions for seed, and also ULV formulations.

These formulations are prepared in a known manner, by mixing compositionwith customary adjuvants, such as, for example, customary extenders andalso solvents or diluents, colorants, wetters, dispersants, emulsifiers,antifoams, preservatives, secondary thickeners, stickers, gibberellins,and also water.

Colorants which may be present in the seed-dressing formulations whichcan be used in accordance with the invention include all colorants whichare customary for such purposes. In this context it is possible to usenot only pigments, which are of low solubility in water, but alsowater-soluble dyes. Examples include the colorants known under thedesignations Rhodamin B, C.I. Pigment Red 112 and C.I. Solvent Red 1.

Wetters which may be present in the seed-dressing formulations which canbe used in accordance with the invention include all of the substanceswhich promote wetting and which are customary in the formulation ofactive agrochemical ingredients. Use may be made preferably ofalkylnaphthalenesulphonates, such as diisopropyl- ordiisobutyl-naphthalenesulphonates.

Dispersants and/or emulsifiers which may be present in the seed-dressingformulations which can be used in accordance with the invention includeall of the nonionic, anionic and cationic dispersants that are customaryin the formulation of active agrochemical ingredients. Use may be madepreferably of nonionic or anionic dispersants or of mixtures of nonionicor anionic dispersants. Suitable nonionic dispersants are, inparticular, ethylene oxide-propylene oxide block polymers, alkylphenolpolyglycol ethers and also tristryrylphenol polyglycol ethers, and thephosphated or sulphated derivatives of these. Suitable anionicdispersants are, in particular, lignosulphonates, salts of polyacrylicacid, and arylsulphonate-formaldehyde condensates.

Antifoams which may be present in the seed-dressing formulations whichcan be used in accordance with the invention include all of the foaminhibitors that are customary in the formulation of active agrochemicalingredients. Use may be made preferably of silicone antifoams andmagnesium stearate.

Preservatives which may be present in the seed-dressing formulationswhich can be used in accordance with the invention include all of thesubstances which can be employed for such purposes in agrochemicalcompositions. Examples include dichlorophen and benzyl alcoholhemiformal.

Secondary thickeners which may be present in the seed-dressingformulations which can be used in accordance with the invention includeall substances which can be used for such purposes in agrochemicalcompositions. Those contemplated with preference include cellulosederivatives, acrylic acid derivatives, xanthan, modified clays andhighly disperse silica.

Stickers which may be present in the seed-dressing formulations whichcan be used in accordance with the invention include all customarybinders which can be used in seed-dressing products. Preferred mentionmay be made of polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinylalcohol and tylose.

Gibberellins which may be present in the seed-dressing formulationswhich can be used in accordance with the invention include preferablythe gibberellins A1, A3 (=gibberellic acid), A4 and A7, with gibberellicacid being used with particular preference. The gibberellins are known(cf. R. Wegler, “Chemie der Pflanzenschutz- andSchädlingsbekämpfungsmittel”, Volume 2, Springer Verlag, 1970, pp.401-412).

The seed-dressing formulations which can be used in accordance with theinvention may be used, either directly or after prior dilution withwater, to treat seed of any of a wide variety of types. Accordingly, theconcentrates or the preparations obtainable from them by dilution withwater may be employed to dress the seed of cereals, such as wheat,barley, rye, oats and triticale, and also the seed of maize, rice,oilseed rape, peas, beans, cotton, sunflowers and beets, or else theseed of any of a very wide variety of vegetables. The seed-dressingformulations which can be used in accordance with the invention, ortheir diluted preparations, may also be used to dress seed of transgenicplants. In that case, additional synergistic effects may occur ininteraction with the substances formed through expression.

For the treatment of seed with the seed-dressing formulations which canbe used in accordance with the invention, or with the preparationsproduced from them by addition of water, suitable mixing equipmentincludes all such equipment which can typically be employed for seeddressing. More particularly, the procedure when carrying out seeddressing is to place the seed in a mixer, to add the particular desiredamount of seed-dressing formulations, either as such or followingdilution with water beforehand, and to carry out mixing until thedistribution of the formulation on the seed is uniform. This may befollowed by a drying operation.

The application rate of the seed-dressing formulations which can be usedin accordance with the invention may be varied within a relatively widerange. It is guided by the particular amount of the at least onebiological control agent and the at least one fungicide (I) in theformulations, and by the seed. The application rates in the case of thecomposition are situated generally at between 0.001 and 50 g perkilogram of seed, preferably between 0.01 and 15 g per kilogram of seed.

The composition according to the invention, in case the biologicalcontrol agent exhibits insecticidal and nematicidal activity, incombination with good plant tolerance and favourable toxicity towarm-blooded animals and being tolerated well by the environment, aresuitable for protecting plants and plant organs, for increasing harvestyields, for improving the quality of the harvested material and forcontrolling animal pests, in particular insects, arachnids, helminths,nematodes and molluscs, which are encountered in agriculture, inhorticulture, in animal husbandry, in forests, in gardens and leisurefacilities, in protection of stored products and of materials, and inthe hygiene sector. They can be preferably employed as plant protectionagents. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of thecomposition according to the invention as insecticide and/or fungicide.

They are active against normally sensitive and resistant species andagainst all or some stages of development. The abovementioned pestsinclude:

pests from the phylum Arthropoda, especially from the class Arachnida,for example, Acarus spp., Aceria sheldoni, Aculops spp., Aculus spp.,Amblyomma spp., Amphitetranychus viennensis, Argas spp., Boophilus spp.,Brevipalpus spp., Bryobia graminum, Bryobia praetiosa, Centruroidesspp., Chorioptes spp., Dermanyssus gallinae, Dermatophagoidespteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, Dermacentor spp., Eotetranychusspp., Epitrimerus pyri, Eutetranychus spp., Eriophyes spp., Glycyphagusdomesticus, Halotydeus destructor, Hemitarsonemus spp., Hyalomma spp.,Ixodes spp., Latrodectus spp., Loxosceles spp., Metatetranychus spp.,Neutrombicula autumnalis, Nuphersa spp., Oligonychus spp., Ornithodorusspp., Ornithonyssus spp., Panonychus spp., Phyllocoptruta oleivora,Polyphagotarsonemus latus, Psoroptes spp., Rhipicephalus spp.,Rhizoglyphus spp., Sarcoptes spp., Scorpio maurus, Steneotarsonemusspp., Steneotarsonemus spinki, Tarsonemus spp., Tetranychus spp.,Trombicula alfreddugesi, Vaejovis spp., Vasates lycopersici;

from the class Chilopoda, for example, Geophilus spp., Scutigera spp.;

from the order or the class Collembola, for example, Onychiurus armatus;

from the class Diplopoda, for example, Blaniulus guttulatus;

from the class Insecta, e.g., from the order Blattodea, for example,Blattella asahinai, Blattella germanica, Blatta orientalis, Leucophaeamaderae, Panchlora spp., Parcoblatta spp., Periplaneta spp., Supellalongipalpa;

from the order Coleoptera, for example, Acalymma vittatum,Acanthoscelides obtectus, Adoretus spp., Agelastica alni, Agriotes spp.,Alphitobius diaperinus, Amphimallon solstitialis, Anobium punctatum,Anoplophora spp., Anthonomus spp., Anthrenus spp., Apion spp., Apogoniaspp., Atomaria spp., Attagenus spp., Bruchidius obtectus, Bruchus spp.,Cassida spp., Cerotoma trifurcata, Ceutorrhynchus spp., Chaetocnemaspp., Cleonus mendicus, Conoderus spp., Cosmopolites spp., Costelytrazealandica, Ctenicera spp., Curculio spp., Cryptolestes ferrugineus,Cryptorhynchus lapathi, Cylindrocopturus spp., Dermestes spp.,Diabrotica spp., Dichocrocis spp., Dicladispa annigera, Diloboderusspp., Epilachna spp., Epitrix spp., Faustinus spp., Gibbium psylloides,Gnathocerus comutus, Hellula undalis, Heteronychus arator, Heteronyxspp., Hylamorpha elegans, Hylotrupes bajulus, Hypera postica, Hypomecessquamosus, Hypothenemus spp., Lachnosterna consanguinea, Lasiodermaserricome, Latheticus oryzae, Lathridius spp., Lema spp., Leptinotarsadecemlineata, Leucoptera spp., Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus, Lixus spp.,Luperodes spp., Lyctus spp., Megascelis spp., Melanotus spp., Meligethesaeneus, Melolontha spp., Migdolus spp., Monochamus spp., Naupactusxanthographus, Necrobia spp., Niptus hololeucus, Oryctes rhinoceros,Oryzaephilus surinamensis, Oryzaphagus oryzae, Otiorrhynchus spp.,Oxycetonia jucunda, Phaedon cochleariae, Phyllophaga spp., Phyllophagahelleri, Phyllotreta spp., Popillia japonica, Premnotrypes spp.,Prostephanus truncatus, Psylliodes spp., Ptinus spp., Rhizobiusventralis, Rhizopertha dominica, Sitophilus spp., Sitophilus oryzae,Sphenophorus spp., Stegobium paniceum, Stemechus spp., Symphyletes spp.,Tanymecus spp., Tenebrio molitor, Tenebrioides mauretanicus, Triboliumspp., Trogoderma spp., Tychius spp., Xylotrechus spp., Zabrus spp.;

from the order Diptera, for example, Aedes spp., Agromyza spp.,Anastrepha spp., Anopheles spp., Asphondylia spp., Bactrocera spp.,Bibio hortulanus, Calliphora erythrocephala, Calliphora vicina,Ceratitis capitata, Chironomus spp., Chrysomyia spp., Chrysops spp.,Chrysozona pluvialis, Cochliomyia spp., Contarinia spp., Cordylobiaanthropophaga, Cricotopus sylvestris, Culex spp., Culicoides spp.,Culiseta spp., Cuterebra spp., Dacus oleae, Dasyneura spp., Delia spp.,Dermatobia hominis, Drosophila spp., Echinocnemus spp., Fannia spp.,Gasterophilus spp., Glossina spp., Haematopota spp., Hydrellia spp.,Hydrellia griseola, Hylemya spp., Hippobosca spp., Hypoderma spp.,Liriomyza spp., Lucilia spp., Lutzomyia spp., Mansonia spp., Musca spp.,Oestrus spp., Oscinella frit, Paratanytarsus spp., Paralauterbomiellasubcincta, Pegomyia spp., Phlebotomus spp., Phorbia spp., Phormia spp.,Piophila casei, Prodiplosis spp., Psila rosae, Rhagoletis spp.,Sarcophaga spp., Simulium spp., Stomoxys spp., Tabanus spp., Tetanopsspp., Tipula spp.;

from the order Heteroptera, for example, Anasa tristis, Antestiopsisspp., Boisea spp., Blissus spp., Calocoris spp., Campylomma livida,Cavelerius spp., Cimex spp., Collaria spp., Creontiades dilutus, Dasynuspiperis, Dichelops furcatus, Diconocoris hewetti, Dysdercus spp.,Euschistus spp., Eurygaster spp., Heliopeltis spp., Horcias nobilellus,Leptocorisa spp., Leptocorisa varicornis, Leptoglossus phyllopus, Lygusspp., Macropes excavatus, Miridae, Monalonion atratum, Nezara spp.,Oebalus spp., Pentomidae, Piesma quadrata, Piezodorus spp., Psallusspp., Pseudacysta persea, Rhodnius spp., Sahlbergella singularis,Scaptocoris castanea, Scotinophora spp., Stephanitis nashi, Tibracaspp., Triatoma spp.;

from the order Homoptera, for example, Acizzia acaciaebaileyanae,Acizzia dodonaeae, Acizzia uncatoides, Acrida turrita, Acyrthosiponspp., Acrogonia spp., Aeneolamia spp., Agonoscena spp., Aleyrodesproletella, Aleurolobus barodensis, Aleurothrixus floccosus,Allocaridara malayensis, Amrasca spp., Anuraphis cardui, Aonidiellaspp., Aphanostigma pini, Aphis spp., Arboridia apicalis, Arytainillaspp., Aspidiella spp., Aspidiotus spp., Atanus spp., Aulacorthum solani,Bemisia tabaci, Blastopsylla occidentalis, Boneioglycaspis melaleucae,Brachycaudus helichrysi, Brachycolus spp., Brevicoryne brassicae,Cacopsylla spp., Calligypona manginata, Carneocephala fulgida,Ceratovacuna lanigena, Cencopidae, Cenoplastes spp., Chaetosiphonfragaefolii, Chionaspis tegalensis, Chlonita onukii, Chondracris rosea,Chromaphis juglandicola, Chrysomphalus ficus, Cicadulina mbila,Coccomytilus halli, Coccus spp., Cryptomyzus ribis, Cryptoneossa spp.,Ctenarytaina spp., Dalbulus spp., Dialeunodes citri, Diaphorina citri,Diaspis spp., Drosicha spp., Dysaphis spp., Dysmicoccus spp., Empoascaspp., Eniosoma spp., Erythroneura spp., Eucalyptolyma spp., Euphyllunaspp., Euscelis bilobatus, Fennisia spp., Geococcus coffeae, Glycaspisspp., Hetenopsylla cubana, Hetenopsylla spinulosa, Homalodiscacoagulata, Hyaloptenus arundinis, Icerya spp., Idiocenus spp.,Idioscopus spp., Laodelphax stniatellus, Lecanium spp., Lepidosaphesspp., Lipaphis erysimi, Macnosiphum spp., Macrosteles facifrons,Mahanarva spp., Melanaphis sacchari, Metcalfiella spp., Metopolophiumdinhodum, Monellia costalis, Monelliopsis pecanis, Myzus spp., Nasonoviaribisnigri, Nephotettix spp., Nettigoniclla spectra, Nilaparvata lugens,Oncometopia spp., Onthezia pnaelonga, Oxya chinensis, Pachypsylla spp.,Panabemisia mynicae, Panatnioza spp., Panlatonia spp., Pemphigus spp.,Peregrinus maidis, Phenacoccus spp., Phloeomyzus passeninii, Phorodonhumuli, Phylloxera spp., Pinnaspis aspidistnae, Planococcus spp.,Prosopidopsylla flava, Protopulvinania pyriformis, Pseudaulacaspispentagona, Pseudococcus spp., Psyllopsis spp., Psylla spp., Ptenomalusspp., Pynilla spp., Quadnaspidiotus spp., Quesada gigas, Rastrococcusspp., Rhopalosiphum spp., Saissetia spp., Scaphoideus titanus,Schizaphis graminum, Selenaspidus articulatus, Sogata spp., Sogatellafurcifera, Sogatodes spp., Stictocephala festina, Siphoninus phillyreae,Tenalaphara malayensis, Tetragonocephela spp., Tinocallis caryaefoliae,Tomaspis spp., Toxoptera spp., Trialeurodes vaporariorum, Trioza spp.,Typhlocyba spp., Unaspis spp., Viteus vitifolii, Zygina spp.;

from the order Hymenoptera, for example, Acromyrmex spp., Athalia spp.,Atta spp., Diprion spp., Hoplocampa spp., Lasius spp., Monomoriumpharaonis, Sirex spp., Solenopsis invicta, Tapinoma spp., Urocerus spp.,Vespa spp., Xeris spp.;

from the order Isopoda, for example, Armadillidium vulgare, Oniscusasellus, Porcellio scaber;

from the order Isoptera, for example, Coptotermes spp., Cornitermescumulans, Cryptotermes spp., Incisitermes spp., Microtermes obesi,Odontotermes spp., Reticulitermes spp.;

from the order Lepidoptera, for example, Achroia grisella, Acronictamajor, Adoxophyes spp., Aedia leucomelas, Agrotis spp., Alabama spp.,Amyelois transitella, Anarsia spp., Anticarsia spp., Argyroploce spp.,Barathra brassicae, Borbo cinnara, Bucculatrix thurberiella, Bupaluspiniarius, Busseola spp., Cacoecia spp., Caloptilia theivora, Capuareticulana, Carpocapsa pomonella, Carposina niponensis, Cheimatobiabrumata, Chilo spp., Choristoneura spp., Clysia ambiguella,Cnaphalocerus spp., Cnaphalocrocis medinalis, Cnephasia spp.,Conopomorpha spp., Conotrachelus spp., Copitarsia spp., Cydia spp.,Dalaca noctuides, Diaphania spp., Diatraea saccharalis, Earias spp.,Ecdytolopha aurantium, Elasmopalpus lignosellus, Eldana saccharina,Ephestia spp., Epinotia spp., Epiphyas postvittana, Etiella spp., Euliaspp., Eupoecilia ambiguella, Euproctis spp., Euxoa spp., Feltia spp.,Galleria mellonella, Gracillaria spp., Grapholitha spp., Hedylepta spp.,Helicoverpa spp., Heliothis spp., Hofmannophila pseudospretella,Homoeosoma spp., Homona spp., Hyponomeuta padella, Kakivoriaflavofasciata, Laphygma spp., Laspeyresia molesta, Leucinodes orbonalis,Leucoptera spp., Lithocolletis spp., Lithophane antennata, Lobesia spp.,Loxagrotis albicosta, Lymantria spp., Lyonetia spp., Malacosomaneustria, Maruca testulalis, Mamstra brassicae, Melanitis leda, Mocisspp., Monopis obviella, Mythimna separata, Nemapogon cloacellus,Nymphula spp., Oiketicus spp., Oria spp., Orthaga spp., Ostrinia spp.,Oulema oryzae, Panolis flammea, Parnara spp., Pectinophora spp.,Perileucoptera spp., Phthorimaea spp., Phyllocnistis citrella,Phyllonorycter spp., Pieris spp., Platynota stultana, Plodiainterpunctella, Plusia spp., Plutella xylostella, Prays spp., Prodeniaspp., Protoparce spp., Pseudaletia spp., Pseudaletia unipuncta,Pseudoplusia includens, Pyrausta nubilalis, Rachiplusia nu, Schoenobiusspp., Scirpophaga spp., Scirpophaga innotata, Scotia segetum, Sesamiaspp., Sesamia inferens, Sparganothis spp., Spodoptera spp., Spodopterapraefica, Stathmopoda spp., Stomopteryx subsecivella, Synanthedon spp.,Tecia solanivora, Thermesia gemmatalis, Tinea cloacella, Tineapellionella, Tineola bisselliella, Tortrix spp., Trichophaga tapetzella,Trichoplusia spp., Tryporyza incertulas, Tuta absoluta, Virachola spp.;

from the order Orthoptera or Saltatoria, for example, Acheta domesticus,Dichroplus spp., Gryllotalpa spp., Hieroglyphus spp., Locusta spp.,Melanoplus spp., Schistocerca gregaria;

from the order Phthiraptera, for example, Damalinia spp., Haematopinusspp., Linognathus spp., Pediculus spp., Ptirus pubis, Trichodectes spp.;

from the order Psocoptera for example Lepinatus spp., Liposcelis spp.;from the order Siphonaptera, for example, Ceratophyllus spp.,Ctenocephalides spp., Pulex irritans, Tunga penetrans, Xenopsyllacheopsis;

from the order Thysanoptera, for example, Anaphothrips obscurus,Baliothrips biformis, Drepanothrips reuteri, Enneothrips flavens,Frankliniella spp., Heliothrips spp., Hercinothrips femoralis,Rhipiphorothrips cruentatus, Scirtothrips spp., Taeniothrips cardamomi,Thrips spp.;

from the order Zygentoma (=Thysanura), for example, Ctenolepisma spp.,Lepisma saccharina, Lepismodes inquilinus, Thermobia domestica;

from the class Symphyla, for example, Scutigerella spp.;

pests from the phylum Mollusca, especially from the class Bivalvia, forexample, Dreissena spp., and from the class Gastropoda, for example,Anion spp., Biomphalaria spp., Bulinus spp., Deroceras spp., Galba spp.,Lymnaea spp., Oncomelania spp., Pomacea spp., Succinea spp.;

animal pests from the phylums Plathelminthes and Nematoda, for example,Ancylostoma duodenale, Ancylostoma ceylanicum, Acylostoma braziliensis,Ancylostoma spp., Ascaris spp., Brugia malayi, Brugia timori, Bunostomumspp., Chabertia spp., Clonorchis spp., Cooperia spp., Dicrocoelium spp.,Dictyocaulus filaria, Diphyllobothrium latum, Dracunculus medinensis,Echinococcus granulosus, Echinococcus multilocularis, Enterobiusvermicularis, Faciola spp., Haemonchus spp., Heterakis spp., Hymenolepisnana, Hyostrongulus spp., Loa Loa, Nematodirus spp., Oesophagostomumspp., Opisthorchis spp., Onchocerca volvulus, Ostertagia spp.,Paragonimus spp., spp., Strongyloides fuelleborni, Strongyloidesstercoralis, Stronyloides spp., Taenia saginata, Taenia solium,Trichinella spiralis, Trichinella nativa, Trichinella britovi,Trichinella nelsoni, Trichinella pseudopsiralis, Trichostrongulus spp.,Trichuris trichiura, Wuchereria bancrofti;

phytoparasitic pests from the phylum Nematoda, for example,Aphelenchoides spp., Bursaphelenchus spp., Ditylenchus spp., Globoderaspp., Heterodera spp., Longidorus spp., Meloidogyne spp., Pratylenchusspp., Radopholus spp., Trichodorus spp., Tylenchulus spp., Xiphinemaspp., Helicotylenchus spp., Tylenchorhynchus spp., Scutellonema spp.,Paratrichodorus spp., Meloinema spp., Paraphelenchus spp., Aglenchusspp., Belonolaimus spp., Nacobbus spp., Rotylenchulus spp., Rotylenchusspp., Neotylenchus spp., Paraphelenchus spp., Dolichodorus spp.,Hoplolaimus spp., Punctodera spp., Criconemella spp., Quinisulcius spp.,Hemicycliophora spp., Anguina spp., Subanguina spp., Hemicriconemoidesspp., Psilenchus spp., Pseudohalenchus spp., Criconemoides spp.,Cacopaurus spp., Hirschmaniella spp, Tetylenchus spp.

It is furthermore possible to control organisms from the subphylumProtozoa, especially from the order Coccidia, such as Eimeria spp.

The present composition preferably is active against Alternaria solani.

Furthermore, the composition according to the present inventionpreferably has potent microbicidal activity and can be used for controlof unwanted microorganisms, such as fungi and bacteria, in cropprotection and in the protection of materials.

The invention also relates to a method for controlling unwantedmicroorganisms, characterized in that the inventive composition isapplied to the phytopathogenic fungi, phytopathogenic bacteria and/ortheir habitat.

Fungicides can be used in crop protection for control of phytopathogenicfungi. They are characterized by an outstanding efficacy against a broadspectrum of phytopathogenic fungi, including soilborne pathogens, whichare in particular members of the classes Plasmodiophoromycetes,Peronosporomycetes (Syn. Oomycetes), Chytridiomycetes, Zygomycetes,Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes and Deuteromycetes (Syn. Fungi imperfecti).Some fungicides are systemically active and can be used in plantprotection as foliar, seed dressing or soil fungicide. Furthermore, theyare suitable for combating fungi, which inter alia infest wood or rootsof plant.

Bactericides can be used in crop protection for control ofPseudomonadaceae, Rhizobiaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Corynebacteriaceaeand Streptomycetaceae.

Non-limiting examples of pathogens of fungal diseases which can betreated in accordance with the invention include:

diseases caused by powdery mildew pathogens, for example Blumeriaspecies, for example Blumeria graminis; Podosphaera species, for examplePodosphaera leucotricha; Sphaerotheca species, for example Sphaerothecafuliginea; Uncinula species, for example Uncinula necator;

diseases caused by rust disease pathogens, for example Gymnosporangiumspecies, for example Gymnosporangium sabinae; Hemileia species, forexample Hemileia vastatrix; Phakopsora species, for example Phakopsorapachyrhizi and Phakopsora meibomiae; Puccinia species, for examplePuccinia recondite, P. triticina, P. graminis or P. striiformis;Uromyces species, for example Uromyces appendiculatus;

diseases caused by pathogens from the group of the Oomycetes, forexample Albugo species, for example Algubo candida; Bremia species, forexample Bremia lactucae; Peronospora species, for example Peronosporapisi or P. brassicae; Phytophthora species, for example Phytophthorainfestans; Plasmopara species, for example Plasmopara viticola;Pseudoperonospora species, for example Pseudoperonospora humuli orPseudoperonospora cubensis; Pythium species, for example Pythiumultimum;

leaf blotch diseases and leaf wilt diseases caused, for example, byAlternaria species, for example Alternaria solani; Cercospora species,for example Cercospora beticola; Cladiosporium species, for exampleCladiosporium cucumerinum; Cochliobolus species, for exampleCochliobolus sativus (conidia form: Drechslera, Syn: Helminthosporium),Cochliobolus miyabeanus; Colletotrichum species, for exampleColletotrichum lindemuthanium; Cycloconium species, for exampleCycloconium oleaginum; Diaporthe species, for example Diaporthe citri;Elsinoe species, for example Elsinoe fawcetti; Gloeosporium species, forexample Gloeosporium laeticolor; Glomerella species, for exampleGlomerella cingulata; Guignardia species, for example Guignardiabidwelli; Leptosphaeria species, for example Leptosphaeria maculans,Leptosphaeria nodorum; Magnaporthe species, for example Magnaporthegrisea; Microdochium species, for example Microdochium nivale;Mycosphaerella species, for example Mycosphaerella graminicola, M.arachidicola and M. fijiensis; Phaeosphaeria species, for examplePhaeosphaeria nodorum; Pyrenophora species, for example Pyrenophorateres, Pyrenophora tritici repentis; Ramularia species, for exampleRamularia collo-cygni, Ramularia areola; Rhynchosporium species, forexample Rhynchosporium secalis; Septoria species, for example Septoriaapii, Septoria lycopersii; Typhula species, for example Typhulaincarnata; Venturia species, for example Venturia inaequalis;

root and stem diseases caused, for example, by Corticium species, forexample Corticium graminearum; Fusarium species, for example Fusariumoxysporum; Gaeumannomyces species, for example Gaeumannomyces graminis;Rhizoctonia species, such as, for example Rhizoctonia solani;Sarocladium diseases caused for example by Sarocladium oryzae;Sclerotium diseases caused for example by Sclerotium oryzae; Tapesiaspecies, for example Tapesia acuformis; Thielaviopsis species, forexample Thielaviopsis basicola;

ear and panicle diseases (including corn cobs) caused, for example, byAlternaria species, for example Alternaria spp.; Aspergillus species,for example Aspergillus flavus; Cladosporium species, for exampleCladosporium cladosporioides; Claviceps species, for example Clavicepspurpurea; Fusarium species, for example Fusarium culmorum; Gibberellaspecies, for example Gibberella zeae; Monographella species, for exampleMonographella nivalis; Septoria species, for example Septoria nodorum;

diseases caused by smut fungi, for example Sphacelotheca species, forexample Sphacelotheca reiliana; Tilletia species, for example Tilletiacaries, T. controversa; Urocystis species, for example Urocystisocculta; Ustilago species, for example Ustilago nuda, U. nuda tritici;

fruit rot caused, for example, by Aspergillus species, for exampleAspergillus flavus; Botrytis species, for example Botrytis cinerea;Penicillium species, for example Penicillium expansum and P.purpurogenum; Sclerotinia species, for example Sclerotinia sclerotiorum;Verticilium species, for example Verticilium alboatrum;

seed and soilborne decay, mould, wilt, rot and damping-off diseasescaused, for example, by Alternaria species, caused for example byAlternaria brassicicola; Aphanomyces species, caused for example byAphanomyces euteiches; Ascochyta species, caused for example byAscochyta lentis; Aspergillus species, caused for example by Aspergillusflavus; Cladosporium species, caused for example by Cladosporiumherbarum; Cochliobolus species, caused for example by Cochliobolussativus; (Conidiaform: Drechslera, Bipolaris Syn: Helminthosporium);Colletotrichum species, caused for example by Colletotrichum coccodes;Fusarium species, caused for example by Fusarium culmorum; Gibberellaspecies, caused for example by Gibberella zeae; Macrophomina species,caused for example by Macrophomina phaseolina; Monographella species,caused for example by Monographella nivalis; Penicillium species, causedfor example by Penicillium expansum; Phoma species, caused for exampleby Phoma lingam; Phomopsis species, caused for example by Phomopsissojae; Phytophthora species, caused for example by Phytophthoracactorum; Pyrenophora species, caused for example by Pyrenophoragraminea; Pyricularia species, caused for example by Pyricularia oryzae;Pythium species, caused for example by Pythium ultimum; Rhizoctoniaspecies, caused for example by Rhizoctonia solani; Rhizopus species,caused for example by Rhizopus oryzae; Sclerotium species, caused forexample by Sclerotium rolfsii; Septoria species, caused for example bySeptoria nodorum; Typhula species, caused for example by Typhulaincarnata; Verticillium species, caused for example by Verticilliumdahliae;

cancers, galls and witches' broom caused, for example, by Nectriaspecies, for example Nectria galligena;

wilt diseases caused, for example, by Monilinia species, for exampleMonilinia laxa; leaf blister or leaf curl diseases caused, for example,by Exobasidium species, for example Exobasidium vexans;

Taphrina species, for example Taphrina deformans;

decline diseases of wooden plants caused, for example, by Esca disease,caused for example by Phaemoniella clamydospora, Phaeoacremoniumaleophilum and Fomitiporia mediterranea; Eutypa dyeback, caused forexample by Eutypa lata; Ganoderma diseases caused for example byGanoderma boninense; Rigidoporus diseases caused for example byRigidoporus lignosus;

diseases of flowers and seeds caused, for example, by Botrytis species,for example Botrytis cinerea;

diseases of plant tubers caused, for example, by Rhizoctonia species,for example Rhizoctonia solani; Helminthosporium species, for exampleHelminthosporium solani;

club root caused, for example, by Plasmodiophora species, for examplePlamodiophora brassicae;

diseases caused by bacterial pathogens, for example Xanthomonas species,for example Xanthomonas campestris pv. oryzae; Pseudomonas species, forexample Pseudomonas syringae pv. lachrymans; Erwinia species, forexample Erwinia amylovora.

The following diseases of soya beans can be controlled with preference:

Fungal diseases on leaves, stems, pods and seeds caused, for example, byAlternaria leaf spot (Alternaria spec. atrans tenuissima), Anthracnose(Colletotrichum gloeosporoides dematium var. truncatum), brown spot(Septoria glycines), cercospora leaf spot and blight (Cercosporakikuchii), choanephora leaf blight (Choanephora infundibulifera trispora(Syn.)), dactuliophora leaf spot (Dactuliophora glycines), downy mildew(Peronospora manshurica), drechslera blight (Drechslera glycini),frogeye leaf spot (Cercospora sojina), leptosphaerulina leaf spot(Leptosphaerulina trifolii), phyllostica leaf spot (Phyllostictasojaecola), pod and stem blight (Phomopsis sojae), powdery mildew(Microsphaera diffusa), pyrenochaeta leaf spot (Pyrenochaeta glycines),rhizoctonia aerial, foliage, and web blight (Rhizoctonia solani), rust(Phakopsora pachyrhizi, Phakopsora meibomiae), scab (Sphacelomaglycines), stemphylium leaf blight (Stemphylium botryosum), target spot(Corynespora cassiicola).

Fungal diseases on roots and the stem base caused, for example, by blackroot rot (Calonectria crotalariae), charcoal rot (Macrophominaphaseolina), fusarium blight or wilt, root rot, and pod and collar rot(Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium orthoceras, Fusarium semitectum, Fusariumequiseti), mycoleptodiscus root rot (Mycoleptodiscus terrestris),neocosmospora (Neocosmospora vasinfecta), pod and stem blight (Diaporthephaseolorum), stem canker (Diaporthe phaseolorum var. caulivora),phytophthora rot (Phytophthora megasperma), brown stem rot (Phialophoragregata), pythium rot (Pythium aphanidermatum, Pythium irregulare,Pythium debaryanum, Pythium myriotylum, Pythium ultimum), rhizoctoniaroot rot, stem decay, and damping-off (Rhizoctonia solani), sclerotiniastem decay (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum), sclerotinia southern blight(Sclerotinia rolfsii), thielaviopsis root rot (Thielaviopsis basicola).

The inventive compositions can be used for curative orprotective/preventive control of phytopathogenic fungi. The inventiontherefore also relates to curative and protective methods forcontrolling phytopathogenic fungi by the use of the inventivecomposition, which is applied to the seed, the plant or plant parts, thefruit or the soil in which the plants grow.

The fact that the composition is well tolerated by plants at theconcentrations required for controlling plant diseases allows thetreatment of above-ground parts of plants, of propagation stock andseeds, and of the soil.

According to the invention all plants and plant parts can be treated. Byplants is meant all plants and plant populations such as desirable andundesirable wild plants, cultivars and plant varieties (whether or notprotectable by plant variety or plant breeder's rights). Cultivars andplant varieties can be plants obtained by conventional propagation andbreeding methods which can be assisted or supplemented by one or morebiotechnological methods such as by use of double haploids, protoplastfusion, random and directed mutagenesis, molecular or genetic markers orby bioengineering and genetic engineering methods. By plant parts ismeant all above ground and below ground parts and organs of plants suchas shoot, leaf, blossom and root, whereby for example leaves, needles,stems, branches, blossoms, fruiting bodies, fruits and seed as well asroots, corms and rhizomes are listed. Crops and vegetative andgenerative propagating material, for example cuttings, corms, rhizomes,runners and seeds also belong to plant parts.

The inventive composition, when it is well tolerated by plants, hasfavourable homeotherm toxicity and is well tolerated by the environment,is suitable for protecting plants and plant organs, for enhancingharvest yields, for improving the quality of the harvested material. Itcan preferably be used as crop protection composition. It is activeagainst normally sensitive and resistant species and against all or somestages of development.

Plants which can be treated in accordance with the invention include thefollowing main crop plants: maize, soya bean, alfalfa, cotton,sunflower, Brassica oil seeds such as Brassica napus (e.g., canola,rapeseed), Brassica rapa, B. juncea (e.g., (field) mustard) and Brassicacarinata, Arecaceae sp. (e.g., oilpalm, coconut), rice, wheat, sugarbeet, sugar cane, oats, rye, barley, millet and sorghum, triticale,flax, nuts, grapes and vine and various fruit and vegetables fromvarious botanic taxa, e.g., Rosaceae sp. (e.g., pome fruits such asapples and pears, but also stone fruits such as apricots, cherries,almonds, plums and peaches, and berry fruits such as strawberries,raspberries, red and black currant and gooseberry), Ribesioidae sp.,Juglandaceae sp., Betulaceae sp., Anacardiaceae sp., Fagaceae sp.,Moraceae sp., Oleaceae sp. (e.g., olive tree), Actinidaceae sp.,Lauraceae sp. (e.g., avocado, cinnamon, camphor), Musaceae sp. (e.g.,banana trees and plantations), Rubiaceae sp. (e.g., coffee), Theaceaesp. (e.g., tea), Sterculiceae sp., Rutaceae sp. (e.g., lemons, oranges,mandarins and grapefruit); Solanaceae sp. (e.g., tomatoes, potatoes,peppers, capsicum, aubergines, tobacco), Liliaceae sp., Compositae sp.(e.g., lettuce, artichokes and chicory—including root chicory, endive orcommon chicory), Umbelliferae sp. (e.g., carrots, parsley, celery andceleriac), Cucurbitaceae sp. (e.g., cucumbers—including gherkins,pumpkins, watermelons, calabashes and melons), Alliaceae sp. (e.g.,leeks and onions), Cruciferae sp. (e.g., white cabbage, red cabbage,broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, pak choi, kohlrabi, radishes,horseradish, cress and chinese cabbage), Leguminosae sp. (e.g., peanuts,peas, lentils and beans—e.g., common beans and broad beans),Chenopodiaceae sp. (e.g., Swiss chard, fodder beet, spinach, beetroot),Linaceae sp. (e.g., hemp), Cannabeacea sp. (e.g., cannabis), Malvaceaesp. (e.g., okra, cocoa), Papaveraceae (e.g., poppy), Asparagaceae (e.g.,asparagus); useful plants and ornamental plants in the garden and woodsincluding turf, lawn, grass and Stevia rebaudiana; and in each casegenetically modified types of these plants.

Preferably, plants which can be treated in accordance with the inventionare selected from the group consisting of fruit and vegetables fromvarious botanic taxa, e.g., Rosaceae sp. (e.g., pome fruits such asapples and pears, but also stone fruits such as apricots, cherries,almonds, plums and peaches, and berry fruits such as strawberries,raspberries, red and black currant and gooseberry), Ribesioidae sp.,Juglandaceae sp., Betulaceae sp., Anacardiaceae sp., Fagaceae sp.,Moraceae sp., Oleaceae sp. (e.g., olive tree), Actinidaceae sp.,Lauraceae sp. (e.g., avocado, cinnamon, camphor), Musaceae sp. (e.g.,banana trees and plantations), Rubiaceae sp. (e.g., coffee), Theaceaesp. (e.g., tea), Sterculiceae sp., Rutaceae sp. (e.g., lemons, oranges,mandarins and grapefruit); Solanaceae sp. (e.g., tomatoes, potatoes,peppers, capsicum, aubergines, tobacco), Liliaceae sp., Compositae sp.(e.g., lettuce, artichokes and chicory—including root chicory, endive orcommon chicory), Umbelliferae sp. (e.g., carrots, parsley, celery andceleriac), Cucurbitaceae sp. (e.g., cucumbers—including gherkins,pumpkins, watermelons, calabashes and melons), Alliaceae sp. (e.g.,leeks and onions), Cruciferae sp. (e.g., white cabbage, red cabbage,broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, pak choi, kohlrabi, radishes,horseradish, cress and chinese cabbage), Leguminosae sp. (e.g., peanuts,peas, lentils and beans—e.g., common beans and broad beans),Chenopodiaceae sp. (e.g., Swiss chard, fodder beet, spinach, beetroot),Linaceae sp. (e.g., hemp), Cannabeacea sp. (e.g., cannabis), Malvaceaesp. (e.g., okra, cocoa), Papaveraceae (e.g., poppy), Asparagaceae (e.g.,asparagus); useful plants and ornamental plants in the garden and woodsincluding turf, lawn, grass and Stevia rebaudiana; and in each casegenetically modified types of these plants.

More preferably, plants which can be treated in accordance with theinvention are tomatoes.

Depending on the plant species or plant cultivars, their location andgrowth conditions (soils, climate, vegetation period, diet), using oremploying the composition according to the present invention thetreatment according to the invention may also result in super-additive(“synergistic”) effects. Thus, for example, by using or employinginventive composition in the treatment according to the invention,reduced application rates and/or a widening of the activity spectrumand/or an increase in the activity better plant growth, increasedtolerance to high or low temperatures, increased tolerance to drought orto water or soil salt content, increased flowering performance, easierharvesting, accelerated maturation, higher harvest yields, biggerfruits, larger plant height, greener leaf color, earlier flowering,higher quality and/or a higher nutritional value of the harvestedproducts, higher sugar concentration within the fruits, better storagestability and/or processability of the harvested products are possible,which exceed the effects which were actually to be expected.

At certain application rates of the inventive composition in thetreatment according to the invention may also have a strengtheningeffect in plants. The defense system of the plant against attack byunwanted phytopathogenic fungi and/or microorganisms and/or viruses ismobilized. Plant-strengthening (resistance-inducing) substances are tobe understood as meaning, in the present context, those substances orcombinations of substances which are capable of stimulating the defensesystem of plants in such a way that, when subsequently inoculated withunwanted phytopathogenic fungi and/or microorganisms and/or viruses, thetreated plants display a substantial degree of resistance to thesephytopathogenic fungi and/or microorganisms and/or viruses. Thus, byusing or employing composition according to the present invention in thetreatment according to the invention, plants can be protected againstattack by the abovementioned pathogens within a certain period of timeafter the treatment. The period of time within which protection iseffected generally extends from 1 to 10 days, preferably 1 to 7 days,after the treatment of the plants with the active compounds.

Plants and plant cultivars which are also preferably to be treatedaccording to the invention are resistant against one or more bioticstresses, i.e., said plants show a better defense against animal andmicrobial pests, such as against nematodes, insects, mites,phytopathogenic fungi, bacteria, viruses and/or viroids.

Plants and plant cultivars which may also be treated according to theinvention are those plants which are resistant to one or more abioticstresses, i.e., that already exhibit an increased plant health withrespect to stress tolerance. Abiotic stress conditions may include, forexample, drought, cold temperature exposure, heat exposure, osmoticstress, flooding, increased soil salinity, increased mineral exposure,ozone exposure, high light exposure, limited availability of nitrogennutrients, limited availability of phosphorus nutrients, shadeavoidance. Preferably, the treatment of these plants and cultivars withthe composition of the present invention additionally increases theoverall plant health (cf. above).

Plants and plant cultivars which may also be treated according to theinvention, are those plants characterized by enhanced yieldcharacteristics, i.e., that already exhibit an increased plant healthwith respect to this feature. Increased yield in said plants can be theresult of, for example, improved plant physiology, growth anddevelopment, such as water use efficiency, water retention efficiency,improved nitrogen use, enhanced carbon assimilation, improvedphotosynthesis, increased germination efficiency and acceleratedmaturation. Yield can furthermore be affected by improved plantarchitecture (under stress and non-stress conditions), including but notlimited to, early flowering, flowering control for hybrid seedproduction, seedling vigor, plant size, internode number and distance,root growth, seed size, fruit size, pod size, pod or ear number, seednumber per pod or ear, seed mass, enhanced seed filling, reduced seeddispersal, reduced pod dehiscence and lodging resistance. Further yieldtraits include seed composition, such as carbohydrate content, proteincontent, oil content and composition, nutritional value, reduction inanti-nutritional compounds, improved processability and better storagestability. Preferably, the treatment of these plants and cultivars withthe composition of the present invention additionally increases theoverall plant health (cf. above).

Plants that may be treated according to the invention are hybrid plantsthat already express the characteristic of heterosis or hybrid vigorwhich results in generally higher yield, vigor, health and resistancetowards biotic and abiotic stress factors. Such plants are typicallymade by crossing an inbred male-sterile parent line (the female parent)with another inbred male-fertile parent line (the male parent). Hybridseed is typically harvested from the male sterile plants and sold togrowers. Male sterile plants can sometimes (e.g., in corn) be producedby detasseling, i.e., the mechanical removal of the male reproductiveorgans (or males flowers) but, more typically, male sterility is theresult of genetic determinants in the plant genome. In that case, andespecially when seed is the desired product to be harvested from thehybrid plants it is typically useful to ensure that male fertility inthe hybrid plants is fully restored. This can be accomplished byensuring that the male parents have appropriate fertility restorer geneswhich are capable of restoring the male fertility in hybrid plants thatcontain the genetic determinants responsible for male-sterility. Geneticdeterminants for male sterility may be located in the cytoplasm.Examples of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) were for instance describedin Brassica species. However, genetic determinants for male sterilitycan also be located in the nuclear genome. Male sterile plants can alsobe obtained by plant biotechnology methods such as genetic engineering.A particularly useful means of obtaining male-sterile plants isdescribed in WO 89/10396 in which, for example, a ribonuclease such asbarnase is selectively expressed in the tapetum cells in the stamens.Fertility can then be restored by expression in the tapetum cells of aribonuclease inhibitor such as barstar.

Plants or plant cultivars (obtained by plant biotechnology methods suchas genetic engineering) which may be treated according to the inventionare herbicide-tolerant plants, i.e., plants made tolerant to one or moregiven herbicides. Such plants can be obtained either by genetictransformation, or by selection of plants containing a mutationimparting such herbicide tolerance.

Herbicide-tolerant plants are for example glyphosate-tolerant plants,i.e., plants made tolerant to the herbicide glyphosate or salts thereof.Plants can be made tolerant to glyphosate through different means. Forexample, glyphosate-tolerant plants can be obtained by transforming theplant with a gene encoding the enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphatesynthase (EPSPS). Examples of such EPSPS genes are the AroA gene (mutantCT7) of the bacterium Salmonella typhimurium, the CP4 gene of thebacterium Agrobacterium sp, the genes encoding a Petunia EPSPS, a TomatoEPSPS, or an Eleusine EPSPS. It can also be a mutated EPSPS.Glyphosate-tolerant plants can also be obtained by expressing a genethat encodes a glyphosate oxido-reductase enzyme. Glyphosate-tolerantplants can also be obtained by expressing a gene that encodes aglyphosate acetyl transferase enzyme. Glyphosate-tolerant plants canalso be obtained by selecting plants containing naturally-occurringmutations of the above-mentioned genes.

Other herbicide resistant plants are for example plants that are madetolerant to herbicides inhibiting the enzyme glutamine synthase, such asbialaphos, phosphinothricin or glufosinate. Such plants can be obtainedby expressing an enzyme detoxifying the herbicide or a mutant glutaminesynthase enzyme that is resistant to inhibition. One such efficientdetoxifying enzyme is an enzyme encoding a phosphinothricinacetyltransferase (such as the bar or pat protein from Streptomycesspecies). Plants expressing an exogenous phosphinothricinacetyltransferase are also described. Further herbicide-tolerant plantsare also plants that are made tolerant to the herbicides inhibiting theenzyme hydroxyphenylpyruvatedioxygenase (HPPD).

Hydroxyphenylpyruvatedioxygenases are enzymes that catalyze the reactionin which para-hydroxyphenylpyruvate (HPP) is transformed intohomogentisate. Plants tolerant to HPPD-inhibitors can be transformedwith a gene encoding a naturally-occurring resistant HPPD enzyme, or agene encoding a mutated HPPD enzyme. Tolerance to HPPD-inhibitors canalso be obtained by transforming plants with genes encoding certainenzymes enabling the formation of homogentisate despite the inhibitionof the native HPPD enzyme by the HPPD-inhibitor. Tolerance of plants toHPPD inhibitors can also be improved by transforming plants with a geneencoding an enzyme prephenate dehydrogenase in addition to a geneencoding an HPPD-tolerant enzyme.

Still further herbicide resistant plants are plants that are madetolerant to acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors. Known ALS-inhibitorsinclude, for example, sulfonylurea, imidazolinone, triazolopyrimidines,pyrimidinyoxy(thio)benzoates, and/or sulfonylaminocarbonyltriazolinoneherbicides. Different mutations in the ALS enzyme (also known asacetohydroxyacid synthase, AHAS) are known to confer tolerance todifferent herbicides and groups of herbicides. The production ofsulfonylurea-tolerant plants and imidazolinone-tolerant plants isdescribed in WO 1996/033270. Other imidazolinone-tolerant plants arealso described. Further sulfonylurea- and imidazolinone-tolerant plantsare also described in for example WO 2007/024782.

Other plants tolerant to imidazolinone and/or sulfonylurea can beobtained by induced mutagenesis, selection in cell cultures in thepresence of the herbicide or mutation breeding as described for examplefor soybeans, for rice, for sugar beet, for lettuce, or for sunflower.

Plants or plant cultivars (obtained by plant biotechnology methods suchas genetic engineering) which may also be treated according to theinvention are insect-resistant transgenic plants, i.e., plants maderesistant to attack by certain target insects. Such plants can beobtained by genetic transformation, or by selection of plants containinga mutation imparting such insect resistance.

An “insect-resistant transgenic plant”, as used herein, includes anyplant containing at least one transgene comprising a coding sequenceencoding:

1) An insecticidal crystal protein from Bacillus thuringiensis or aninsecticidal portion thereof, such as the insecticidal crystal proteinslisted online at:

http://www.lifesci.sussex.ac.uk/Home/Neil_Crickmore/Bt/, or insecticidalportions thereof, e.g., proteins of the Cry protein classes Cry1Ab,Cry1Ac, Cry1F, Cry2Ab, Cry3Aa, or Cry3Bb or insecticidal portionsthereof; or

2) a crystal protein from Bacillus thuringiensis or a portion thereofwhich is insecticidal in the presence of a second other crystal proteinfrom Bacillus thuringiensis or a portion thereof, such as the binarytoxin made up of the Cry34 and Cry35 crystal proteins; or

3) a hybrid insecticidal protein comprising parts of differentinsecticidal crystal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis, such as ahybrid of the proteins of 1) above or a hybrid of the proteins of 2)above, e.g., the Cry1A.105 protein produced by corn event MON98034 (WO2007/027777); or

4) a protein of any one of 1) to 3) above wherein some, particularly 1to 10, amino acids have been replaced by another amino acid to obtain ahigher insecticidal activity to a target insect species, and/or toexpand the range of target insect species affected, and/or because ofchanges introduced into the encoding DNA during cloning ortransformation, such as the Cry3Bb 1 protein in corn events MON863 orMON88017, or the Cry3A protein in corn event MIR604;

5) an insecticidal secreted protein from Bacillus thuringiensis orBacillus cereus, or an insecticidal portion thereof, such as thevegetative insecticidal (VIP) proteins, e.g., proteins from the VIP3Aaprotein class; or

6) secreted protein from Bacillus thuringiensis or Bacillus cereus whichis insecticidal in the presence of a second secreted protein fromBacillus thuringiensis or B. cereus, such as the binary toxin made up ofthe VIP1A and VIP2A proteins; or

7) hybrid insecticidal protein comprising parts from different secretedproteins from Bacillus thuringiensis or Bacillus cereus, such as ahybrid of the proteins in 1) above or a hybrid of the proteins in 2)above; or

8) protein of any one of 1) to 3) above wherein some, particularly 1 to10, amino acids have been replaced by another amino acid to obtain ahigher insecticidal activity to a target insect species, and/or toexpand the range of target insect species affected, and/or because ofchanges introduced into the encoding DNA during cloning ortransformation (while still encoding an insecticidal protein), such asthe VIP3Aa protein in cotton event COT102.

Of course, an insect-resistant transgenic plant, as used herein, alsoincludes any plant comprising a combination of genes encoding theproteins of any one of the above classes 1 to 8. In one embodiment, aninsect-resistant plant contains more than one transgene encoding aprotein of any one of the above classes 1 to 8, to expand the range oftarget insect species affected when using different proteins directed atdifferent target insect species, or to delay insect resistancedevelopment to the plants by using different proteins insecticidal tothe same target insect species but having a different mode of action,such as binding to different receptor binding sites in the insect.

Plants or plant cultivars (obtained by plant biotechnology methods suchas genetic engineering) which may also be treated according to theinvention are tolerant to abiotic stresses. Such plants can be obtainedby genetic transformation, or by selection of plants containing amutation imparting such stress resistance. Particularly useful stresstolerance plants include:

a) plants which contain a transgene capable of reducing the expressionand/or the activity of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP) gene in theplant cells or plants;

b) plants which contain a stress tolerance enhancing transgene capableof reducing the expression and/or the activity of thepoly(ADP-ribose)glycohydrolase (PARG) encoding genes of the plants orplants cells; and

c) plants which contain a stress tolerance enhancing transgene codingfor a plant-functional enzyme of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotidesalvage synthesis pathway including nicotinamidase, nicotinatephosphoribosyltransferase, nicotinic acid mononucleotide adenyltransferase, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide synthetase or nicotineamide phosphorybosyltransferase.

Plants or plant cultivars (obtained by plant biotechnology methods suchas genetic engineering) which may also be treated according to theinvention show altered quantity, quality and/or storage-stability of theharvested product and/or altered properties of specific ingredients ofthe harvested product such as:

1) transgenic plants which synthesize a modified starch, which in itsphysical-chemical characteristics, in particular the amylose content orthe amylose/amylopectin ratio, the degree of branching, the averagechain length, the side chain distribution, the viscosity behaviour, thegelling strength, the starch grain size and/or the starch grainmorphology, is changed in comparison with the synthesised starch in wildtype plant cells or plants, so that this is better suited for specialapplications;

2) transgenic plants which synthesize non starch carbohydrate polymersor which synthesize non starch carbohydrate polymers with alteredproperties in comparison to wild type plants without geneticmodification. Examples are plants producing polyfructose, especially ofthe inulin and levan-type, plants producing alpha 1,4 glucans, plantsproducing alpha-1,6 branched alpha-1,4-glucans, plants producingalternan; and

3) transgenic plants which produce hyaluronan.

Plants or plant cultivars (that can be obtained by plant biotechnologymethods such as genetic engineering) which may also be treated accordingto the invention are plants, such as cotton plants, with altered fibercharacteristics. Such plants can be obtained by genetic transformationor by selection of plants contain a mutation imparting such alteredfiber characteristics and include:

a) plants, such as cotton plants, containing an altered form ofcellulose synthase genes;

b) plants, such as cotton plants, containing an altered form of rsw2 orrsw3 homologous nucleic acids;

c) plants, such as cotton plants, with increased expression of sucrosephosphate synthase;

d) plants, such as cotton plants, with increased expression of sucrosesynthase;

e) plants, such as cotton plants, wherein the timing of theplasmodesmatal gating at the basis of the fiber cell is altered, e.g.,through downregulation of fiberselective β1,3-glucanase; and

f) plants, such as cotton plants, having fibers with altered reactivity,e.g., through the expression of N-acteylglucosaminetransferase geneincluding nodC and chitinsynthase genes.

Plants or plant cultivars (that can be obtained by plant biotechnologymethods such as genetic engineering) which may also be treated accordingto the invention are plants, such as oilseed rape or related Bras sicaplants, with altered oil profile characteristics. Such plants can beobtained by genetic transformation or by selection of plants contain amutation imparting such altered oil characteristics and include:

i) plants, such as oilseed rape plants, producing oil having a higholeic acid content;

ii) plants such as oilseed rape plants, producing oil having a lowlinolenic acid content; and

iii) plant such as oilseed rape plants, producing oil having a low levelof saturated fatty acids.

Particularly useful transgenic plants which may be treated according tothe invention are plants which comprise one or more genes which encodeone or more toxins, such as the following which are sold under the tradenames YIELD GARD® (for example maize, cotton, soya beans), KNOCKOUT®(for example maize), BITEGARD® (for example maize), BT-XTRA® (forexample maize), STARLINK® (for example maize), BOLLGARD® (cotton),NUCOTN® (cotton), NUCOTN® 33B (cotton), NATUREGARD® (for example maize),PROTECTA® and NEWLEAF® (potato). Examples of herbicide-tolerant plantswhich may be mentioned are maize varieties, cotton varieties and soyabean varieties which are sold under the trade names ROUNDUP READY®(tolerance to glyphosate, for example maize, cotton, soya bean), LIBERTYLINK® (tolerance to phosphinotricin, for example oilseed rape), IMI®(tolerance to imidazolinones) and STS® (tolerance to sulphonylureas, forexample maize). Herbicide-resistant plants (plants bred in aconventional manner for herbicide tolerance) which may be mentionedinclude the varieties sold under the name CLEARFIELD® (for examplemaize).

Particularly useful transgenic plants which may be treated according tothe invention are plants containing transformation events, or acombination of transformation events, and that are listed for example inthe databases for various national or regional regulatory agenciesincluding Event 1143-14A (cotton, insect control, not deposited,described in WO 06/128569); Event 1143-51B (cotton, insect control, notdeposited, described in WO 06/128570); Event 1445 (cotton, herbicidetolerance, not deposited, described in U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2002-120964 or WO 02/034946); Event 17053 (rice,herbicide tolerance, deposited as PTA-9843, described in WO 10/117737);Event 17314 (rice, herbicide tolerance, deposited as PTA-9844, describedin WO 10/117735); Event 281-24-236 (cotton, insect control—herbicidetolerance, deposited as PTA-6233, described in WO 05/103266 or U.S.Patent Application Publication No. 2005-216969); Event 3006-210-23(cotton, insect control—herbicide tolerance, deposited as PTA-6233,described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007-143876 or WO05/103266); Event 3272 (corn, quality trait, deposited as PTA-9972,described in WO 06/098952 or U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2006-230473); Event 40416 (corn, insect control—herbicide tolerance,deposited as ATCC PTA-11508, described in WO 11/075593); Event 43A47(corn, insect control—herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-11509,described in WO 11/075595); Event 5307 (corn, insect control, depositedas ATCC PTA-9561, described in WO 10/077816); Event ASR-368 (bent grass,herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-4816, described in U.S.Patent Application Publication No. 2006-162007 or WO 04/053062); EventB16 (corn, herbicide tolerance, not deposited, described in U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2003-126634); Event BPS-CV127-9 (soybean,herbicide tolerance, deposited as NCIMB No. 41603, described in WO10/080829); Event CE43-67B (cotton, insect control, deposited as DSMACC2724, described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2009-217423 or WO 06/128573); Event CE44-69D (cotton, insect control,not deposited, described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2010-0024077); Event CE44-69D (cotton, insect control, not deposited,described in WO 06/128571); Event CE46-02A (cotton, insect control, notdeposited, described in WO 06/128572); Event COT102 (cotton, insectcontrol, not deposited, described in U.S. Patent Application PublicationNo. 2006-130175 or WO 04/039986); Event COT202 (cotton, insect control,not deposited, described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2007-067868 or WO 05/054479); Event COT203 (cotton, insect control, notdeposited, described in WO 05/054480); Event DAS40278 (corn, herbicidetolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-10244, described in WO 11/022469);Event DAS-59122-7 (corn, insect control—herbicide tolerance, depositedas ATCC PTA 11384, described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2006-070139); Event DAS-59132 (corn, insect control—herbicide tolerance,not deposited, described in WO 09/100188); Event DAS68416 (soybean,herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-10442, described in WO11/066384 or WO 11/066360); Event DP-098140-6 (corn, herbicidetolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-8296, described in U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2009-137395 or WO 08/112019); EventDP-305423-1 (soybean, quality trait, not deposited, described in U.S.Patent Application Publication No. 2008-312082 or WO 08/054747); EventDP-32138-1 (corn, hybridization system, deposited as ATCC PTA-9158,described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009-0210970 or WO09/103049); Event DP-356043-5 (soybean, herbicide tolerance, depositedas ATCC PTA-8287, described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2010-0184079 or WO 08/002872); Event EE-1 (brinjal, insect control, notdeposited, described in WO 07/091277); Event FI117 (corn, herbicidetolerance, deposited as ATCC 209031, described in U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2006-059581 or WO 98/044140); Event GA21(corn, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC 209033, described in U.S.Patent Application Publication No. 2005-086719 or WO 98/044140); EventGG25 (corn, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC 209032, described inU.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005-188434 or WO 98/044140);Event GHB119 (cotton, insect control—herbicide tolerance, deposited asATCC PTA-8398, described in WO 08/151780); Event GHB614 (cotton,herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-6878, described in U.S.Patent Application Publication No. 2010-050282 or WO 07/017186); EventGJ11 (corn, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC 209030, described inU.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005-188434 or WO 98/044140);Event GM RZ13 (sugar beet, virus resistance, deposited as NCIMB-41601,described in WO 10/076212); Event H7-1 (sugar beet, herbicide tolerance,deposited as NCIMB 41158 or NCIMB 41159, described in U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2004-172669 or WO 04/074492); Event JOPLIN1(wheat, disease tolerance, not deposited, described in U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2008-064032); Event LL27 (soybean, herbicidetolerance, deposited as NCIMB41658, described in WO 06/108674 or U.S.Patent Application Publication No. 2008-320616); Event LL55 (soybean,herbicide tolerance, deposited as NCIMB 41660, described in WO 06/108675or U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008-196127); EventLLcotton25 (cotton, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-3343,described in WO 03/013224 or U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2003-097687); Event LLRICE06 (rice, herbicide tolerance, deposited asATCC-23352, described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,468,747 or WO 00/026345); EventLLRICE601 (rice, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-2600,described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008-2289060 or WO00/026356); Event LY038 (corn, quality trait, deposited as ATCCPTA-5623, described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2007-028322 or WO 05/061720); Event MIR162 (corn, insect control,deposited as PTA-8166, described in U.S. Patent Application PublicationNo. 2009-300784 or WO 07/142840); Event MIR604 (corn, insect control,not deposited, described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2008-167456 or WO 05/103301); Event MON15985 (cotton, insect control,deposited as ATCC PTA-2516, described in U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2004-250317 or WO 02/100163); Event MON810 (corn, insectcontrol, not deposited, described in U.S. Patent Application PublicationNo. 2002-102582); Event MON863 (corn, insect control, deposited as ATCCPTA-2605, described in WO 04/011601 or U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2006-095986); Event MON87427 (corn, pollination control,deposited as ATCC PTA-7899, described in WO 11/062904); Event MON87460(corn, stress tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-8910, described in WO09/111263 or U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2011-0138504);Event MON87701 (soybean, insect control, deposited as ATCC PTA-8194,described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009-130071 or WO09/064652); Event MON87705 (soybean, quality trait—herbicide tolerance,deposited as ATCC PTA-9241, described in U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2010-0080887 or WO 10/037016); Event MON87708 (soybean,herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA9670, described in WO11/034704); Event MON87754 (soybean, quality trait, deposited as ATCCPTA-9385, described in WO 10/024976); Event MON87769 (soybean, qualitytrait, deposited as ATCC PTA-8911, described in U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2011-0067141 or WO 09/102873); Event MON88017 (corn,insect control —herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-5582,described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008-028482 or WO05/059103); Event MON88913 (cotton, herbicide tolerance, deposited asATCC PTA-4854, described in WO 04/072235 or U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2006-059590); Event MON89034 (corn, insect control,deposited as ATCC PTA-7455, described in WO 07/140256 or U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2008-260932); Event MON89788 (soybean,herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-6708, described in U.S.Patent Application Publication No. 2006-282915 or WO 06/130436); EventMS 11 (oilseed rape, pollination control—herbicide tolerance, depositedas ATCC PTA-850 or PTA-2485, described in WO 01/031042); Event MS8(oilseed rape, pollination control—herbicide tolerance, deposited asATCC PTA-730, described in WO 01/041558 or U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2003-188347); Event NK603 (corn, herbicide tolerance,deposited as ATCC PTA-2478, described in U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2007-292854); Event PE-7 (rice, insect control, notdeposited, described in WO 08/114282); Event RF3 (oilseed rape,pollination control —herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-730,described in WO 01/041558 or U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2003-188347); Event RT73 (oilseed rape, herbicide tolerance, notdeposited, described in WO 02/036831 or US-A 2008-070260); Event T227-1(sugar beet, herbicide tolerance, not deposited, described in WO02/44407 or US-A 2009-265817); Event T25 (corn, herbicide tolerance, notdeposited, described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2001-029014 or WO 01/051654); Event T304-40 (cotton, insectcontrol—herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-8171, described inU.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010-077501 or WO 08/122406);Event T342-142 (cotton, insect control, not deposited, described in WO06/128568); Event TC1507 (corn, insect control—herbicide tolerance, notdeposited, described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2005-039226 or WO 04/099447); Event VIP1034 (corn, insectcontrol—herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-3925, described in WO03/052073), Event 32316 (corn, insect control-herbicide tolerance,deposited as PTA-11507, described in WO 11/084632), Event 4114 (corn,insect control-herbicide tolerance, deposited as PTA-11506, described inWO 11/084621).

Particularly useful transgenic plants which may be treated according tothe invention are plants containing transformation events, orcombination of transformation events, that are listed for example in thedatabases from various national or regional regulatory agencies.

The following examples are given for purely illustrative andnon-limiting purposes of the present invention.

EXAMPLES

The advanced fungicidal activity of the active compound combinationsaccording to the invention is evident from the examples below. While theindividual active compounds exhibit weaknesses with regard to thefungicidal activity, the combinations have an activity which exceeds asimple addition of activities.

A synergistic effect of fungicides is always present when the fungicidalactivity of the active compound combinations exceeds the total of theactivities of the active compounds when applied individually. Theexpected activity for a given combination of two active compounds can becalculated as follows (according to Colby's formula) (cf. Colby, S. R.,“Calculating Synergistic and Antagonistic Responses of HerbicideCombinations”, Weeds 1967, 15, 20-22):

If

X is the efficacy when active compound A is applied at an applicationrate of m ppm (or g/ha),

Y is the efficacy when active compound B is applied at an applicationrate of n ppm (or g/ha),

E is the efficacy when the active compounds A and B are applied atapplication rates of m and n ppm (or g/ha), respectively, and

then

$E = {X + Y - \frac{X \cdot Y}{100}}$

The degree of efficacy, expressed in % is denoted. 0% means an efficacywhich corresponds to that of the control while an efficacy of 100% meansthat no disease is observed.

If the actual fungicidal activity exceeds the calculated value, then theactivity of the combination is superadditive, i.e., a synergistic effectexists. In this case, the efficacy which was actually observed must begreater than the value for the expected efficacy (E) calculated from theabovementioned formula.

A further way of demonstrating a synergistic effect is the method ofTammes (cf. “Isoboles, A Graphic Representation of Synergism inPesticides,” in Neth. J. Plant Path., 1964, 70, 73-80).

The invention is illustrated by the following examples. However theinvention is not limited to the examples.

In the following examples the strains Bacillus subtilis AQ30002 (alsoknown as QST30002 or B19) and Bacillus subtilis AQ713 (also known asQST713 or B9) were used.

Example A Alternaria Test (Tomatoes)/Preventive

QST30002, active compounds (1 part by weight) solved inacetone/dimethylacetamide (24.5/24.5 part by weight) and alkylarylpolyglycol ether (1 part by weight), or combinations thereof werediluted with water to the desired concentration.

The application rate of QST30002 refers to the amount of dried Bacillussubtilis AQ30002 aka QST30002 (NRRL Accession No. B-50421). A solutioncomprising 8.5×10⁸ CFU/g (1.34%) of this strain was used.

To test for preventive activity, young plants are sprayed with thepreparation of active compound at the stated rate of application. Afterthe spray coating has dried on, the plants are inoculated with anaqueous spore suspension of Alternaria solani. The plants are thenplaced in an incubation cabinet at approximately 20° C. and a relativeatmospheric humidity of 100%.

The test is evaluated 3 days after the inoculation. 0% means an efficacywhich corresponds to that of the untreated control while an efficacy of100% means that no disease is observed.

The table below shows that the observed activity of the active compoundcombination according to the invention is greater than the calculatedactivity, i.e., a synergistic effect is present.

TABLE A Alternaria Test (Tomatoes)/Preventive Application Rate ofEfficacy in % Active Compounds Active Compound (ppm) Found* Calc.** B19QST30002 500 34 F206 mandipropamid 100 0 B19 + F206 1:0.2 500 + 100 6534 *Found = activity observed **Calc. = activity calculated usingColby's formula

Example B Botrytis cinerea Test (Roses)/Preventive

A commercial formulation of Bacillus subtilis AQ713, RHAPSODY®,containing a minimum of 1×10⁹ CFU/g active compounds was applied aloneor in combination with the commercial product, SCALA®, containing 54.6%pyrimethanil. The commercial products were dissolved in water at theconcentrations shown in Table B.

The application rate of Bacillus subtilis AQ713 refers to the amount of(1.34%) Bacillus subtilis AQ713 (NRRL Accession No. B-21661) (i.e.,spore preparation) contained in a formulation of AQ713.

To test for preventive activity, young rose plants were sprayed with thepreparation of active compounds at the stated rate of application. Therose plants were grown in the field under conditions where diseasepressure from Botrytis cinerea was present. Each treatment was appliedtwice to the plants at intervals five days apart. The efficacy of thetreatments in preventing Botrytis infection on the leaves and stems ofthe plants was evaluated fifteen days after the second application.

Table B shows the results of the field trial. The table shows that theobserved activity of the active compound combination according to theinvention is greater than the calculated activity, i.e., a synergisticeffect is present.

TABLE B Botrytis cinerea Test (Roses)/Preventive Application Rate ofEfficacy in % Active Compounds Active Compound Found* Calc.** B9 AQ713  2 mL/L 50 F196 pyrimethanil 1.25 mL/L 40 B9 + F196 2 mL/L + 1.25 mL/L75 70 *Found = activity observed **Calc. = activity calculated usingColby's formula

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms herein havethe same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in theart to which this invention belongs. All publications, patents, andpatent publications cited are incorporated by reference herein in theirentirety for all purposes.

It is understood that the disclosed invention is not limited to theparticular methodology, protocols and materials described as these canvary. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for thepurposes of describing particular embodiments only and is not intendedto limit the scope of the present invention which will be limited onlyby the appended claims.

Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain usingno more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specificembodiments of the invention described herein. Such equivalents areintended to be encompassed by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A composition comprising at least one biologicalcontrol agent selected from the group consisting of: Bacillus subtilisAQ713 (NRRL Accession No. B-21661), Bacillus subtilis AQ30002 (NRRLAccession No. B-50421), and Bacillus subtilis AQ 30004 (NRRL AccessionNo. B-50455), and/or a mutant of these strains having all theidentifying characteristics of the respective strain, and/or ametabolite produced by the respective strain that exhibits activityagainst insects, mites, nematodes and/or phytopathogens and at least onefungicide (I) selected from the group consisting of inhibitors of aminoacid and/or protein biosynthesis and inhibitors of cell wall synthesisin a synergistically effective amount.
 2. The composition according toclaim 1, wherein fungicide (I) is an inhibitor of amino acid and/orprotein biosynthesis.
 3. The composition according to claim 2, whereinfungicide (I) is cyprodinil or pyrimethanil.
 4. The compositionaccording to claim 1, wherein fungicide (I) is an inhibitor of cell wallsynthesis.
 5. The composition according to claim 4, wherein fungicide(I) is benthiavalicarb, dimethomorph, iprovalicarb, mandipropamid, orvalifenalate.
 6. The composition according to claim 5, wherein fungicide(I) is mandipropamid.
 7. The composition according to claim 1, furthercomprising at least one additional fungicide (II), with the proviso thatthe biological control agent, fungicide (I) and fungicide (II) are notidentical.
 8. The composition according to claim 7, wherein fungicide(II) is a synthetic fungicide.
 9. The composition according to claim 8,wherein fungicide (II) is selected from the group consisting ofinhibitors of the ergosterol biosynthesis, inhibitors of the respiratorychain at complex I or II, inhibitors of the respiratory chain at complexIII, inhibitors of the mitosis and cell division, compounds capable tohave a multisite action, compounds capable to induce a host defense,inhibitors of the amino acid and/or protein biosynthesis, inhibitors ofthe ATP production, inhibitors of the cell wall synthesis, inhibitors ofthe lipid and membrane synthesis, inhibitors of the melaninebiosynthesis, inhibitors of the nucleic acid synthesis, inhibitors ofthe signal transduction, compounds capable to act as an uncoupler,further compounds such as benthiazole, bethoxazin, capsimycin, carvone,chinomethionat, pyriofenone (chlazafenone), cufraneb, cyflufenamid,cymoxanil, cyprosulfamide, dazomet, debacarb, dichlorophen, diclomezine,difenzoquat, difenzoquat methylsulphate, diphenylamine, ecomate,fenpyrazamine, flumetover, fluoroimide, flusulfamide, flutianil,fosetyl-aluminium, fosetyl-calcium, fosetyl-sodium, hexachlorobenzene,irumamycin, methasulfocarb, methyl isothiocyanate, metrafenone,mildiomycin, natamycin, nickel dimethyldithiocarbamate,nitrothal-isopropyl, octhilinone, oxamocarb, oxyfenthiin,pentachlorophenol and salts (87-86-5), (F297) phenothrin, (F298)phosphorous acid and its salts, propamocarb-fosetylate,propanosine-sodium, proquinazid, pyrimorph,(2E)-3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-3-(2-chloropyridin-4-yl)-1-(morpholin-4-yl)prop-2-en-1-one,(2Z)-3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-3-(2-chloropyridin-4-yl)-1-(morpholin-4-yl)prop-2-en-1-one,pyrrolnitrine, tebufloquin, tecloftalam, tolnifanide, triazoxide,trichlamide, zarilamid,(3S,6S,7R,8R)-8-benzyl-3-[({3-[(isobutyryloxy)methoxy]-4-methoxypyridin-2-yl}carbonyl)amino]-6-methyl-4,9-dioxo-1,5-dioxonan-7-yl2-methylpropanoate,1-(4-{4-[(5R)-5-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1,2-oxazol-3-yl]-1,3-thiazol-2-yl}piperidin-1-yl)-2-[5-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]ethanone,1-(4-{4-[(5S)-5-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1,2-oxazol-3-yl]-1,3-thiazol-2-yl}piperidin-1-yl)-2-[5-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]ethanone,1-(4-{4-[5-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1,2-oxazol-3-yl]-1,3-thiazol-2-yl}piperidin-1-yl)-2-[5-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]ethanone,1-(4-methoxyphenoxy)-3,3-dimethylbutan-2-yl 1H-imidazole-1-carboxylate,2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-4-(methylsulfonyl)pyridine,2,3-dibutyl-6-chlorothieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-one,2,6-dimethyl-1H,5H-[1,4]dithiino[2,3-c:5,6-c′]dipyrrole-1,3,5,7(2H,6H)-tetrone,2-[5-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]-1-(4-{4-[(5R)-5-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1,2-oxazol-3-yl]-1,3-thiazol-2-yl}piperidin-1-yl)ethanone,2-[5-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]-1-(4-{4-[(5S)-5-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1,2-oxazol-3-yl]-1,3-thiazol-2-yl}piperidin-1-yl)ethanone,2-[5-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]-1-{4-[4-(5-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1,2-oxazol-3-yl)-1,3-thiazol-2-yl]piperidin-1-yl}ethanone,2-butoxy-6-iodo-3-propyl-4H-chromen-4-one,2-chloro-5-[2-chloro-1-(2,6-difluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)-4-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl]pyridine,2-phenylphenol and salts,3-(4,4,5-trifluoro-3,3-dimethyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-1-yl)quinolone,3,4,5-trichloropyridine-2,6-dicarbonitrile,3-[5-(4-chlorophenyl)-2,3-dimethyl-1,2-oxazolidin-3-yl]pyridine,3-chloro-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-6-methylpyridazine,4-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-3,6-dimethylpyridazine,5-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thiol,5-chloro-N′-phenyl-N′-(prop-2-yn-1-yl)thiophene-2-sulfonohydrazide,5-fluoro-2-[(4-fluorobenzyl)oxy]pyrimidin-4-amine,5-fluoro-2-[(4-methylbenzyl)oxy]pyrimidin-4-amine,5-methyl-6-octyl[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-amine, ethyl(2Z)-3-amino-2-cyano-3-phenylprop-2-enoate,N′-(4-{[3-(4-chlorobenzyl)-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-yl]oxy}-2,5-dimethylphenyl)-N-ethyl-N-methylimidoformamide,N-(4-chlorobenzyl)-3-[3-methoxy-4-(prop-2-yn-1-yloxy)phenyl]propanamide,N-[(4-chlorophenyl)(cyano)methyl]-3-[3-methoxy-4-(prop-2-yn-1-yloxy)phenyl]propanamide,N-[(5-bromo-3-chloropyridin-2-yl)methyl]-2,4-dichloropyridine-3-carboxamide,N-[1-(5-bromo-3-chloropyridin-2-yl)ethyl]-2,4-dichloropyridine-3-carboxamide,N-[1-(5-bromo-3-chloropyridin-2-yl)ethyl]-2-fluoro-4-iodopyridine-3-carboxamide,N-{(E)-[(cyclopropylmethoxy)imino][6-(difluoromethoxy)-2,3-difluorophenyl]methyl}-2-phenylacetamide,N-{(Z)-[(cyclopropylmethoxy)imino][6-(difluoromethoxy)-2,3-difluorophenyl]methyl}-2-phenylacetamide,N′-{4-[(3-tert-butyl-4-cyano-1,2-thiazolo-5-yl)oxy]-2-chloro-5-methylphenyl}-N-ethyl-N-methylimidoformamide,N-methyl-2-(1-{[5-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]acetyl}piperidin-4-yl)-N-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-1-yl)-1,3-thiazole-4-carboxamide,N-methyl-2-(1-{[5-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]acetyl}piperidin-4-yl)-N-[(1R)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-1-yl]-1,3-thiazole-4-carboxamide,N-methyl-2-(1-{[5-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]acetyl}piperidin-4-yl)-N-[(1S)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-1-yl]-1,3-thiazole-4-carboxamide,pentyl{6-[({[(1-methyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)(phenyl)methylidene]amino}oxy)methyl]pyridin-2-yl}carbamate,phenazine-1-carboxylic acid, quinolin-8-ol (134-31-6), quinolin-8-olsulfate (2:1), tert-butyl {6-[({[(1-methyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)(phenyl)methylene]amino}oxy)methyl]pyridin-2-yl}carbamate,1-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-N-[2′-(trifluoromethyl)biphenyl-2-yl]-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide,N-(4′-chlorobiphenyl-2-yl)-3-(difluoromethyl)-1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide,N-(2′,4′-dichlorobiphenyl-2-yl)-3-(difluoromethyl)-1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide,3-(difluoromethyl)-1-methyl-N-[4′-(trifluoromethyl)biphenyl-2-yl]-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide,N-(2′,5′-difluorobiphenyl-2-yl)-1-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide,3-(difluoromethyl)-1-methyl-N-[4′-(prop-1-yn-1-yl)biphenyl-2-yl]-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide,5-fluoro-1,3-dimethyl-N-[4′-(prop-1-yn-1-yl)biphenyl-2-yl]-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide,2-chloro-N-[4′-(prop-1-yn-1-yl)biphenyl-2-yl]pyridine-3-carboxamide,3-(difluoromethyl)-N-[4′-(3,3-dimethylbut-1-yn-1-yl)biphenyl-2-yl]-1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide,N-[4′-(3,3-dimethylbut-1-yn-1-yl)biphenyl-2-yl]-5-fluoro-1,3-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide,3-(difluoromethyl)-N-(4′-ethynylbiphenyl-2-yl)-1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide,N-(4′-ethynylbiphenyl-2-yl)-5-fluoro-1,3-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide,2-chloro-N-(4′-ethynylbiphenyl-2-yl)pyridine-3-carboxamide,2-chloro-N-[4′-(3,3-dimethylbut-1-yn-1-yl)biphenyl-2-yl]pyridine-3-carboxamide,4-(difluoromethyl)-2-methyl-N-[4′-(trifluoromethyl)biphenyl-2-yl]-1,3-thiazole-5-carboxamide,5-fluoro-N-[4′-(3-hydroxy-3-methylbut-1-yn-1-yl)biphenyl-2-yl]-1,3-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide,2-chloro-N-[4′-(3-hydroxy-3-methylbut-1-yn-1-yl)biphenyl-2-yl]pyridine-3-carboxamide,3-(difluoromethyl)-N-[4′-(3-methoxy-3-methylbut-1-yn-1-yl)biphenyl-2-yl]-1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide,5-fluoro-N-[4′-(3-methoxy-3-methylbut-1-yn-1-yl)biphenyl-2-yl]-1,3-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide,2-chloro-N-[4′-(3-methoxy-3-methylbut-1-yn-1-yl)biphenyl-2-yl]pyridine-3-carboxamide,(5-bromo-2-methoxy-4-methylpyridin-3-yl)(2,3,4-trimethoxy-6-methylphenyl)methanone,N-[2-(4-{[3-(4-chlorophenyl)prop-2-yn-1-yl]oxy}-3-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]-N2-(methylsulfonyl)valinamide,4-oxo-4-[(2-phenylethyl)amino]butanoic acid, but-3-yn-1-yl{6-[({[(Z)-(1-methyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)(phenyl)methylene]amino}oxy)methyl]pyridin-2-yl}carbamate,4-Amino-5-fluorpyrimidin-2-ol (mesomeric form:6-Amino-5-fluorpyrimidin-2(1H)-on), propyl 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate andoryzastrobin.
 10. The composition according to claim 1 additionallycomprising at least one auxiliary selected from the group consisting ofextenders, solvents, spontaneity promoters, carriers, emulsifiers,dispersants, frost protectants, thickeners and adjuvants.
 11. A seedtreated with the composition according to claim
 1. 12. The use of thecomposition according to claim 1 as a fungicide and/or an insecticide ona plant with the step of simultaneously or sequentially applying the atleast one biological control agent and the at least one fungicide (I) tothe plant.
 13. The use according to claim 11 for reducing overall damageof plants and plant parts as well as losses in harvested fruits orvegetables caused by insects, mites, nematodes and/or phytopathogens.14. The use according to claim 10 for treating conventional ortransgenic plants or seeds thereof.
 15. A method for reducing overalldamage of plants and plant parts as well as losses in harvested fruitsor vegetables caused by insects, mites, nematodes and/or phytopathogenscomprising the step of simultaneously or sequentially applying at leastone biological control agent selected from the group consisting of:Bacillus subtilis AQ713 (NRRL Accession No. B-21661), Bacillus subtilisAQ30002 (NRRL Accession No. B-50421), and Bacillus subtilis AQ 30004(NRRL Accession No. B-50455), and/or a mutant of these strains havingall the identifying characteristics of the respective strain, and/or ametabolite produced by the respective strain that exhibits activityagainst insects, mites, nematodes and/or phytopathogens and at least onefungicide (I) selected from the group consisting of inhibitors of aminoacid and/or protein biosynthesis and inhibitors of cell wall synthesisin a synergistically effective amount.
 16. The method according to claim15, wherein fungicide (I) is an inhibitor of amino acid and/or proteinbiosynthesis.
 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein fungicide(I) is cyprodinil or pyrimethanil.
 18. The method according to claim 15,wherein fungicide (I) is an inhibitor of cell wall synthesis.
 19. Thecomposition according to claim 18, wherein fungicide (I) isbenthiavalicarb, dimethomorph, iprovalicarb, mandipropamid, orvalifenalate.
 20. The method according to claim 15 further comprising atleast one additional fungicide (II), with the proviso that thebiological control agent, fungicide (I) and fungicide (II) are notidentical.